Royal Mail services saved - for some

1:00pm Wednesday 19th December 2012 in Local News

Royal Mail Royal Mail

VILLAGERS will be able to pick up parcels from their nearest post offices after five delivery offices are closed.

Royal Mail has extended an olive branch to residents in Canewdon and Great Wakering by offering to pay the local post offices to temporarily store packages instead.

However, people living in Rochford, Leigh and Shoebury still face a lengthy trek to the company’s main depot in Short Street, Southend, when the controversial closures go ahead next year.

James Duddridge, the Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East, was told about the proposed arrangements at a crisis meeting with Royal Mail bosses.

He said: “In some ways, this could be seen as good news.

“In Great Wakering, in particular, the post office is far more conveniently located than the delivery office.

“However, I do not see why this cannot happen elsewhere - particularly Rochford - and I will be speaking to Royal Mail’s chief executive about this.”

Royal Mail’s proposals have sparked outrage since they were revealed earlier this year.

The company wants to close the delivery offices, which allow residents pick up parcels which could not be delivered because they were out, to cut costs.

According to Mr Duddridge, bosses decided they would pay post offices which were more than five miles away from Short Street to take over the role of storing parcels.

Both Canewdon and Great Wakering meet that criteria, meaning residents will simply have to go to their local branch once the closures, which are expected to happen in the spring, are finalised.

However, because the doomed delivery offices in Rochford, Shoebury and Leigh are inside that five-mile boundary, residents which relied on their services will have to travel into central Southend for their packages instead.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: “We can confirm these arrangements.

“We were not able to announce them earlier as they had not been finalised.

“We will be releasing more details about the options available nearer to the time.”

Comments (22)

1:26pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Ian P says...

It seems to me that the Royal Mail has failed to grasp who is the supplier and who is the customer in this relationship. It would serve them right if everyone started sending packages via couriers rather than use the Royal Mail Non-Service.
It seems to me that the Royal Mail has failed to grasp who is the supplier and who is the customer in this relationship. It would serve them right if everyone started sending packages via couriers rather than use the Royal Mail Non-Service. Ian P

1:35pm Wed 19 Dec 12

SUFC1906 says...

Why can't the councils in Rochford, Shoebury & Leigh provide a collection storage point at the local libraries in those areas. At least that would give the residents some way to pick up parcels locally even if the hours are only 9am-5pm?
Why can't the councils in Rochford, Shoebury & Leigh provide a collection storage point at the local libraries in those areas. At least that would give the residents some way to pick up parcels locally even if the hours are only 9am-5pm? SUFC1906

1:46pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Rouge9 says...

SUFC1906 wrote:
Why can't the councils in Rochford, Shoebury & Leigh provide a collection storage point at the local libraries in those areas. At least that would give the residents some way to pick up parcels locally even if the hours are only 9am-5pm?
Great! But sadly that doesn't help those of us who don't work in the area.
At the moment the collection point in Rochford opens at 7am, I can collect my parcel/package and then goto work. It's a sytem that works.

Travelling into Southend just isn't acceptable for me, especially on a saturday morning, that is IF i'm about. At this rate I'll never get my post. As suggested, I may as well pay for a courier who can deliver on a schedule
[quote][p][bold]SUFC1906[/bold] wrote: Why can't the councils in Rochford, Shoebury & Leigh provide a collection storage point at the local libraries in those areas. At least that would give the residents some way to pick up parcels locally even if the hours are only 9am-5pm?[/p][/quote]Great! But sadly that doesn't help those of us who don't work in the area. At the moment the collection point in Rochford opens at 7am, I can collect my parcel/package and then goto work. It's a sytem that works. Travelling into Southend just isn't acceptable for me, especially on a saturday morning, that is IF i'm about. At this rate I'll never get my post. As suggested, I may as well pay for a courier who can deliver on a schedule Rouge9

1:47pm Wed 19 Dec 12

j-w says...

Good idea that, not only will it encourage more people to use the libraries but some money in the coffers too.
Trouble is Royal mail would probably just dump all the parcels there instead of trying to deliver them! Best way is to use the online service to get the parcel redelivered when you are likely to be in.
Good idea that, not only will it encourage more people to use the libraries but some money in the coffers too. Trouble is Royal mail would probably just dump all the parcels there instead of trying to deliver them! Best way is to use the online service to get the parcel redelivered when you are likely to be in. j-w

1:53pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Shoebury_Cyclist says...

There is no way I am ever going to waste time and money travelling all the way into central Southend to collect missed deliveries. Royal Mail can d@amned well redeliver and keep redelivering until I am in to receive parcels.
If that costs them even more in shipping costs then that's their problem. They chose to remove the service.
There is no way I am ever going to waste time and money travelling all the way into central Southend to collect missed deliveries. Royal Mail can d@amned well redeliver and keep redelivering until I am in to receive parcels. If that costs them even more in shipping costs then that's their problem. They chose to remove the service. Shoebury_Cyclist

2:00pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Uptomen says...

...another step in the downward spiral.
My company have already pledged to boycott Royal Mail as far as is practical since the announcement of the closures a couple of weeks ago.
It is absolutely ludicrous that this same idea coudlnt be offered to Leigh and other affected areas or are Royal Mail determined to ignore the public (their customers) opinions on this?
...another step in the downward spiral. My company have already pledged to boycott Royal Mail as far as is practical since the announcement of the closures a couple of weeks ago. It is absolutely ludicrous that this same idea coudlnt be offered to Leigh and other affected areas or are Royal Mail determined to ignore the public (their customers) opinions on this? Uptomen

2:13pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Russ13 says...

I can see a lot of online retailers moving away from RM if these changes are happening all over the country.

My local sorting office (Shoebury) only allows collections between 7-12 Mon-Fri and for a couple of hours on a Saturday. Whilst I can get there for 7am and still make it to work on time, I can only imagine the queues that are going to form at Short Street, that's if I can get there at all during their business hours.

It won't be long before the retailers get sick of goods being returned to them because the customer didn't pick them up from the sorting office in time, the customer's start complaining they haven't received their goods and the retailers move away from RM completely.

Very short sighted IMHO from RM.....
I can see a lot of online retailers moving away from RM if these changes are happening all over the country. My local sorting office (Shoebury) only allows collections between 7-12 Mon-Fri and for a couple of hours on a Saturday. Whilst I can get there for 7am and still make it to work on time, I can only imagine the queues that are going to form at Short Street, that's if I can get there at all during their business hours. It won't be long before the retailers get sick of goods being returned to them because the customer didn't pick them up from the sorting office in time, the customer's start complaining they haven't received their goods and the retailers move away from RM completely. Very short sighted IMHO from RM..... Russ13

2:43pm Wed 19 Dec 12

perini says...

The final nail in the RM coffin - use of other courier companies almost guaranteed now!
The final nail in the RM coffin - use of other courier companies almost guaranteed now! perini

2:47pm Wed 19 Dec 12

rochfordfa says...

Hope the Short Street offices will be open 0500-2300 Monday to Saturday and 1000-1600 Sunday to allow commuters to go and collect their post
Hope the Short Street offices will be open 0500-2300 Monday to Saturday and 1000-1600 Sunday to allow commuters to go and collect their post rochfordfa

3:34pm Wed 19 Dec 12

notinwestcliffanymore says...

The red card does offer the option of redelivery but wether that will be a convienant time is debatable.
The red card does offer the option of redelivery but wether that will be a convienant time is debatable. notinwestcliffanymore

3:37pm Wed 19 Dec 12

perini says...

notinwestcliffanymor
e wrote:
The red card does offer the option of redelivery but wether that will be a convienant time is debatable.
Just another day for delivery, which if you are working, presents the same problems of someone being in!
[quote][p][bold]notinwestcliffanymor e[/bold] wrote: The red card does offer the option of redelivery but wether that will be a convienant time is debatable.[/p][/quote]Just another day for delivery, which if you are working, presents the same problems of someone being in! perini

4:24pm Wed 19 Dec 12

cris300 says...

“In some ways, this could be seen as good news" None of this is good news Duddie is it really.
“In some ways, this could be seen as good news" None of this is good news Duddie is it really. cris300

4:34pm Wed 19 Dec 12

firedog says...

How did they measure the five miles?It must be at least that from Shoebury
post office in George street,to Short street, unless you have wings.
How did they measure the five miles?It must be at least that from Shoebury post office in George street,to Short street, unless you have wings. firedog

4:45pm Wed 19 Dec 12

kng says...

tell me is the post office next to the delivery office in shoebury being kept open as its part of the same building as the delivery office.im expecting all the closed offices to be redeveloped into flats very soon after they close .royal mail don't even own these sites as they sold them off to a separate franchise years ago.these closures have been in the wind for over ten years now but never made public .feel free to ask me anything im a ex local royal mail manager.
tell me is the post office next to the delivery office in shoebury being kept open as its part of the same building as the delivery office.im expecting all the closed offices to be redeveloped into flats very soon after they close .royal mail don't even own these sites as they sold them off to a separate franchise years ago.these closures have been in the wind for over ten years now but never made public .feel free to ask me anything im a ex local royal mail manager. kng

4:53pm Wed 19 Dec 12

notinwestcliffanymore says...

kng wrote:
tell me is the post office next to the delivery office in shoebury being kept open as its part of the same building as the delivery office.im expecting all the closed offices to be redeveloped into flats very soon after they close .royal mail don't even own these sites as they sold them off to a separate franchise years ago.these closures have been in the wind for over ten years now but never made public .feel free to ask me anything im a ex local royal mail manager.
ok i will, why don 't posties work evenings to do deliveries when people are in?
[quote][p][bold]kng[/bold] wrote: tell me is the post office next to the delivery office in shoebury being kept open as its part of the same building as the delivery office.im expecting all the closed offices to be redeveloped into flats very soon after they close .royal mail don't even own these sites as they sold them off to a separate franchise years ago.these closures have been in the wind for over ten years now but never made public .feel free to ask me anything im a ex local royal mail manager.[/p][/quote]ok i will, why don 't posties work evenings to do deliveries when people are in? notinwestcliffanymore

5:03pm Wed 19 Dec 12

BD says...

kng wrote:
tell me is the post office next to the delivery office in shoebury being kept open as its part of the same building as the delivery office.im expecting all the closed offices to be redeveloped into flats very soon after they close .royal mail don't even own these sites as they sold them off to a separate franchise years ago.these closures have been in the wind for over ten years now but never made public .feel free to ask me anything im a ex local royal mail manager.
I find it odd that the sorting office is closing and yet the post office (part of the same building) is being kept open - how long till the post office shuts too? And then knock the building down and sticks more ugly flats there..

Im not sure Ill be able to use royal mail any more, I work 6 days a week, like many it was convenient to pop into the sorting office at 7.15 and then catch my train - to now get on a train, go to short street and then get back on a train to london is not going to happen
[quote][p][bold]kng[/bold] wrote: tell me is the post office next to the delivery office in shoebury being kept open as its part of the same building as the delivery office.im expecting all the closed offices to be redeveloped into flats very soon after they close .royal mail don't even own these sites as they sold them off to a separate franchise years ago.these closures have been in the wind for over ten years now but never made public .feel free to ask me anything im a ex local royal mail manager.[/p][/quote]I find it odd that the sorting office is closing and yet the post office (part of the same building) is being kept open - how long till the post office shuts too? And then knock the building down and sticks more ugly flats there.. Im not sure Ill be able to use royal mail any more, I work 6 days a week, like many it was convenient to pop into the sorting office at 7.15 and then catch my train - to now get on a train, go to short street and then get back on a train to london is not going to happen BD

5:04pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Rouge9 says...

firedog wrote:
How did they measure the five miles?It must be at least that from Shoebury post office in George street,to Short street, unless you have wings.
Probably in a straight line. I'm guessing that it's more than a 5 mile drive to southend centre from the Rochford office
[quote][p][bold]firedog[/bold] wrote: How did they measure the five miles?It must be at least that from Shoebury post office in George street,to Short street, unless you have wings.[/p][/quote]Probably in a straight line. I'm guessing that it's more than a 5 mile drive to southend centre from the Rochford office Rouge9

5:56pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Displeased of Shoebury says...

Mr Duddridge should be fighting the cause of all Post Office Delivery Offices within his area.
We are all customers but it seems RM tell us how is to be.
Mr Duddridge should be fighting the cause of all Post Office Delivery Offices within his area. We are all customers but it seems RM tell us how is to be. Displeased of Shoebury

6:44pm Wed 19 Dec 12

A.I.K. says...

kng wrote:
tell me is the post office next to the delivery office in shoebury being kept open as its part of the same building as the delivery office.im expecting all the closed offices to be redeveloped into flats very soon after they close .royal mail don't even own these sites as they sold them off to a separate franchise years ago.these closures have been in the wind for over ten years now but never made public .feel free to ask me anything im a ex local royal mail manager.
Before you got the tin tack!!
[quote][p][bold]kng[/bold] wrote: tell me is the post office next to the delivery office in shoebury being kept open as its part of the same building as the delivery office.im expecting all the closed offices to be redeveloped into flats very soon after they close .royal mail don't even own these sites as they sold them off to a separate franchise years ago.these closures have been in the wind for over ten years now but never made public .feel free to ask me anything im a ex local royal mail manager.[/p][/quote]Before you got the tin tack!! A.I.K.

7:30pm Wed 19 Dec 12

Carnabackable says...

I don't know what all the fuss is about, when I order say from Amazon, I do so with it mind, to be in to receive the parcel. I buy with it in my mind to agree RM's terms, if not I'd use a different delivery firm.
Though I had to laugh, having read hat people would boycott RM, they deal with millions of items, which is why they are so profitable, which is also why they are cutting away the dead wood - rural under used operations.
Once people realise, that due to the vast profits being made from towns and cities, whilst the rural small PO is being propped up by those bigger incomes, they will then now realise that these country bumkin counters are going to be a thing of the past, and that it was the reason RM have looked at their business structure.
I don't know what all the fuss is about, when I order say from Amazon, I do so with it mind, to be in to receive the parcel. I buy with it in my mind to agree RM's terms, if not I'd use a different delivery firm. Though I had to laugh, having read hat people would boycott RM, they deal with millions of items, which is why they are so profitable, which is also why they are cutting away the dead wood - rural under used operations. Once people realise, that due to the vast profits being made from towns and cities, whilst the rural small PO is being propped up by those bigger incomes, they will then now realise that these country bumkin counters are going to be a thing of the past, and that it was the reason RM have looked at their business structure. Carnabackable

8:41am Thu 20 Dec 12

Brunning999 says...

I came passed Church road Benfleet sorting office today, I counted 22 red post office vans all new!!!!!!

Is it a wonder we pay so much to post a letter!

Why all the vans years ago there was none and there has not been that many new homes Built surely???

We pay a lot of money for a poor service, entirely the fault of so called modernisation!!!
I came passed Church road Benfleet sorting office today, I counted 22 red post office vans all new!!!!!! Is it a wonder we pay so much to post a letter! Why all the vans years ago there was none and there has not been that many new homes Built surely??? We pay a lot of money for a poor service, entirely the fault of so called modernisation!!! Brunning999

12:32pm Thu 20 Dec 12

jayman says...

of course 'dud' will take action on this issue. It affects the 'grey vote' which the scum bag needs to secure a future term in office.
of course 'dud' will take action on this issue. It affects the 'grey vote' which the scum bag needs to secure a future term in office. jayman

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree