Muswell Hill Delivery Office: MP opposes proposed closure of "crucial" Royal Mail service

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Hornsey and Wood Green MP Catherine West has criticised “shortsighted” plans to close Muswell Hill’s Royal Mail delivery office, while locals say the plans are “very concerning”.

This week the Royal Mail announced it is consulting staff on plans to shut the office in Muswell Hill and transfer services to its north London hub in Wood Green.

Ms West said: “I strongly oppose these shortsighted plans to close Muswell Hill delivery office, meaning that customers would be forced to travel all the way to Wood Green to pick up a parcel.

“For elderly, disabled people or parents with small children that means huge inconvenience, long bus journeys and bigger queues. It’s a particular blow for small business holders and sole traders who rely on these crucial services.”

Catherine has requested an urgent meeting with the Royal Mail’s chief exec.

Rachael Booth-Clibborn, who lives in N10 and would be directly affected, told the Ham&High: “The impact of this would be very concerning for local small businesses and for those with mobility issues who rely on public services on their doorstep.”

Rachael, who also founded the Muswell Hill Creatives group, added: “We hope that Catherine West MP and other local councillors will fully challenge this decision.”

A spokesperson for the Royal Mail said: “We would like to make clear that this is only a proposal at this stage. We now need to speak to our staff at both offices. We are also liaising with the MP.”

In a statement explaining the decision, the Royal Mail cited its “ongoing transformation of its business to increase the efficiency of its operation as well as providing delivery offices which are fit for purpose for our people and for our customers”.

It added: “As a commercial business, we are responding to the huge growth in electronic communications and decline in letter volumes, while seeing a high volume of parcels and online shopping that need to be delivered to customers.”

It claims moving services to Wood Green would help “increase the efficiency of its operations and provide delivery offices that are fit for purpose for our staff and our customers”.

No firm decision is expected for approximately three months.

[glenfiddich]

Do all these delivery office closures increase efficiency or is it just a big property sell off and to reduce distribution staff

[Navalron]

No the walks will still need to be staffed but they could lose one of two collection drivers. But it's all about selling the offices for money to keep the share price up. They don't have big cost cutting ideas left, apart from getting rid of parcel force and putting the parcels onto posture to deliver. I said this on here a couple of times to be told no way will it happen. Well they have just upped the max from 20 kilos to 30 kilos parcels you can deliver. With the new lat duties ECT it will happen, with the bigger parcels going out to the mail centre drivers who are mostly 7.5tonne trained and struggling for work to fill their 318s as it is. Getting rid of all parcel force managers and most of the workers would save a fortune. The centres would just be brought under RM. Just like the way it used to be and makes a lot of sense going forward.

[SpacePhoenix]

They don't have big cost cutting ideas left, apart from getting rid of parcel force and putting the parcels onto posture to deliver. I said this on here a couple of times to be told no way will it happen.

Just where are the hours going to come from for that to happen? Most DOs around the country are short on the hours required to do their deliveries

Well they have just upped the max from 20 kilos to 30 kilos parcels you can deliver.

30kg parcels are a two person lift and i doubt any DO has got the staff to spare to have two people to lift a 30kg out on delivery

with the bigger parcels going out to the mail centre drivers who are mostly 7.5tonne trained and struggling for work to fill their 318s as it is.

What drivers? It's near enough at the point where over half the 7.5tonne drivers are agency. Also they're limited by driving hours.

[Navalron]

The new lat duties will cover the problem off not having enough staff. Also the shortage of 7.5 drivers will be covered by some coming over from parcel force when it transfers. I never said it would be easy. Do you want to bet, with the loser paying to a charity or union charity. It is going to happen. Look at the state of the mail centres. They soon will be ALL anguard/casual workers. And what has the union done about that. Nought. What are they going to do about this. Nought. Royal mail just laugh at the union these days. It's not something i take delight in.