Newark D.O

[noggin1969]

http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/artic ... e-to-close


Postmen say town delivery office to close
7:35am Thu Jan 20, 2011
Royal Mail has rejected claims from its own staff that it intends to relocate the Newark Delivery Office.
The Royal Mail Delivery Office on Pelham Street, Newark.
Postal workers say they have been briefed on a move and are resigned to it happening, but have been warned against discussing it to avoid causing “a fuss.”

It is understood options suggested for any relocation are Long Bennington, or possibly Fernwood Business Park, as both have easy access to the A1.

There are 130 postmen based at the Pelham Street delivery office who are split 50-50 between town rounds and rural routes.

The area covered by the office is the second largest rural patch in the country and extends to Long Bennington in the south, Budby in the north, Harby in the west and Flintham in the east.

Under the new plans, the majority of postmen would have to dispense with their trademark red bicycles and be bussed into Newark to do their rounds.

One postman the Advertiser spoke to said: “We’ve all been told of the plan and it isn’t unexpected.

“They are shutting a number of offices.

“We have real concerns over the service and it will be terrible for 80-year-old Mrs Miggins from the Hawtonville Estate who wants to collect her parcel. How is she going to get to Long Bennington?

“Royal Mail are maximising their assets. We understand that we’ll be privatised by September.”

Another said: “Royal Mail has plans for the closure of Newark, Grantham and Sleaford delivery offices in nine to 12 months and the building or leasing of a new depot on the side of the A1.

“We were briefed on Friday but told not to tell anyone as it may cause some fuss.”

The Pelham Street depot backs on to the Potterdyke carpark which is being redeveloped as an Asda supermarket and carpark with a promenade of shops, new bus station, social housing and new health centre.

Construction has begun and it is possible that Royal Mail could offer the site to be incorporated into that development.

The MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, visited the delivery office on Tuesday but said bosses had not told him of any relocation plan.

He described the mood among staff as one of concern with privatisation looming.

“People are extremely concerned and worried about what the future holds for them,” said Mr Mercer.

“Privatisation ought to mean that the current level of service is maintained, but the unpaid work postmen and women do, the social work if you like, of being the eyes and ears of our communities, will disappear and that is one of the main reasons why I voted against the privatisation bill.”

Royal Mail told the Advertiser there was no truth to the suggestion it planned to move its delivery office out of Newark.

[John_B]

I heard they were merging Newark, Grantham and another office I can't remember (possibly Sleaford) and building a new depot at the A1 triangle at Gonerby Moor, just outside of Grantham.

If you are saying Newark will be moving to Long Bennington, then that means Grantham will also be moving into the same office ??

But geographically this makes no sense for the deliveries from Beeston, it is further for them the travel !!
It also means buying more RM buses to transport everyone back into Grantham and Newark.

How can that be cost saving ?

[noggin1969]

There'

[John_B]

I also heard that the Beeston MC move was put on hold, because it was going to cost too much.

[noggin1969]

who knows these days whats going on

[POSTMAN]

Park and loop will solve the travelling,looking at it from another angle,if you're travelling time goes up to say over 30mins there and back,that could possibly be an hr or even more sitting on your arse each day.
Every cloud?