USK Mail office to close

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/8 ... _to_close/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ROYAL Mail has announced it is closing its Usk delivery office next year The office will close on January 17 amid health and safety worries, relocating staff and services to Pontypool.

But businesses and town councillors say the move will be a blow to the town whose businesses, they claim, have already been struggling enough in the current economic climate.

Royal Mail said the decision was aimed at improving working conditions for the 16 staff at the site, which it said has restricted office space and poor vehicle access, as well as improving the efficency of the company's operations.

Moving to Pontypool Delivery Office was the best solution to the problem, a spokeswoman said.

She added arrangements for redelivery of items have been made for under the NP15 area, which is serviced by the office and includes Glascoed, Usk and Raglan.

Customers will be able to collect items from Usk Post Office or have them redelivered to another local address.

Usk mayor and town councillor Alec Leathwood said it was dreadful news.

“I have to say I am shocked,” he said. “Businesses need easy access to the office and now they will have to travel much further for that.”

He said he will bring the matter up at the next town council meeting on Monday, and said he was sure the council would do what it could to prevent closure.

Max Rolls, owner of H&R Wallpaper and Paint in Usk, said he wasn’t pleased about the move, saying that the centre of the town already has four or five closed shops.

He feared it would take longer for postmen and women to deliver mail, having to travel from Pontypool instead of Usk.

“Anything that closes down is making it more awkward,” he sad.

A union rep said the plans could leave post customers worse off in central Monmouthshire.

Communications Workers Union Welsh regional secretary Gary Watkins told the Argus they were yet to have full discussions with Royal Mail about the plans.

Mr Watkins said he did not think the plans had been properly thought through, and believed that deliveries to the office’s rural catchment area will take longer.

“From a public service point-of-view we believe that if the office is moved it will result in a lower standard of customer service,” he said.

Union officials will discuss the move with staff on Thursday, Mr Watkins added, before a meeting with bosses is arranged.

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said there will be little impact on delivery times to customers in the NP15 area.

[not me]

i expect all the small offices will face the same fate soon enough

[Guevarista]

According to the AA, the distance between Pontypool DO and Usk DO is 9.2 miles. Using their route planner, the time taken to travel between the 2 is 18 minutes - though knowing the area, and the morning traffic levels, this figure is more than optimistic.

Perhaps someone can explain this glib comment:

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said there will be little impact on delivery times to customers in the NP15 area.

given the fact that some Usk posties will have at least 36 minutes of extra travelling time every day?

[fishtank]

Perhaps someone can explain this glib comment:

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said there will be little impact on delivery times to customers in the NP15 area.

given the fact that some Usk posties will have at least 36 minutes of extra travelling time every day?

Sure...the service will be shite in Usk.
........the service will be shite in Pontypool.
In fact after privatisation the service will no doubt be shite everywhere.....little impact.....think about it.