Post threat needs sorting...and fast

TOUGH talking . . . Councillor John McCann (centre) discusses the situation with Uppermill sub-postmaster Graham Sheldon (right) and Councillor Alan Roughley

Councillors are forming a battle plan if the proposed closure of three Saddleworth postal sorting offices and radical staff changes goes ahead, it is revealed today.

The move comes after a leaked document said the area’s postmen and women would move to Oldham and village deliveries would be taken over by part-timers.

Now ward councillors Alan Roughley and John McCann are holding discussions to mount a petition opposing the plan.

Councillor Roughley said: “Post offices are the very glue of communities — they hold us all together. We need integrated local services otherwise communities will be dead.”

Royal Mail have denied staff would be moved to Oldham and sorting offices closed in Greenfield, Uppermill and Dobcross.

However, it says it is in discussion with the Communication Workers Union about streamlining plans for the three operations but local staff would remain in the villages.

It is believed more than 20 employees working at Greenfield, Uppermill and Dobcross sorting offices could be affected.

The document says the proposal is to reduce costs and improve productivity, manpower planning and knock-on cover of sickness and leave.

Sources close to the Royal Mail say Saddleworth postmen and women have seen a document, prepared by a manager in Oldham, which outlines the changes. Councillors have described the plans as a “recipe for chaos” with poor postal service and less local employment.

Mike Rooke, secretary of the Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents’ Association, said: “ Village residents value local services and the local knowledge of our sorting offices.

“Yet despite sterling efforts of our postal workers, mail still gets misdirected to Saddleworth addresses. We dread to imagine the consequences, if our sorting and delivery service gets centralised.”

Parish councillor Ken Hulme said: “If this ill-conceived cost-cutting measure goes ahead residents and local businesses who depend on the postal services will suffer.

“Delivery times will stretch well into the afternoon and unfortunately whenever casual staff are introduced the number of letters that are incorrectly delivered — or not delivered at all — increase substantially.”

A meeting is planned today between post office staff in Saddleworth, borough and parish councillors to examine the possible repercussions for residents and businesses in the area.

Paul Hanson is chairman of the Saddleworth Business Association, which has 130 members and 1,200 businesses that subscribe to its directory.

He said: “Obviously, there is no clear plan and so long as they do not remove the post offices and do not allow the delivery service to be later in the day, which would affect our members, then I do not think the association would object to any reasonable changes that improve cost performance in the current climate.

“The circular seems to be a consultative document and I could not comment on the merits of the detailed options proposed at this stage.”

“This could have serious repercussions for rural or country postal services throughout the country.

“Our regular local posties do a great job. Local residents and businesses really need to join with postal workers, our local councils and MPs to oppose this,” he added.



Parish Council takes action



SADDLEWORTH Parish Council agreed to take action after discussing the threat to postal services under an emergency motion at its meeting last night.



Councillor Brian Lord said claims of cuts to the service was an “ill conceived idea” and a sad thing for Saddleworth.

Parish councillor Ken Hulme said bringing in casual workers with large work loads who did not know the area was a mistake. He said: "I’ve seen how damaging casualisation can be. We should dig in and we should fight."

It was agreed the Parish Council should write a letter to the Royal Mail saying expressing its concerned about the quality of the services and future viability of the post offices.