Collection times come forward at 50 boxes

Alterations to final collection times at around 50 of 600 Oldham post boxes could have an impact on businesses, it was claimed today.

The new move will see times brought forward by up to 90 minutes in some Saddleworth villages where a major row has already broken out over postal sorting offices and deliveries.

The changes by Royal Mail to a twelfth of OL post boxes takes place on March 23 and the decision has been greeted with anger by business communities.

A spokesperson for the Saddleworth Business Association said: “This really will affect local businesses trying to meet the new postal times with business mail.

“Trailing into Oldham to post a letter is just not an option. This is absolutely no way to promote a modern business.”

Customers posting letters today found a notice on affected post boxes outlining the new collection times which vary across the villages.

At Greenfield, for example, the current weekday collection time will move from 7.05 p.m. to 5.30pm.

The notice on a post box on Chew Valley Road says Royal Mail are currently introducing a programme of mail centre optimisation in several parts of the country.

Part of that programme involves the move of some Oldham operations to the Manchester mail centre.

“In order to get more of your mail into our mail centre earlier,” says the notice, “it has been necessary to change the collection time of the last collection from this box. A later posting time of 7pm will be available at Hamilton Street Oldham.

And a Manchester-based Royal Mail spokesman explained: “This is to ensure customers’ mail enters our system in good time to meet despatch deadlines from the mail centre for onward distribution and next day delivery.

“Notices have been placed on the affected boxes to advise customers of the change.”

But a source close to the post office in Saddleworth said ruefully: “The quality service is rapidly going downhill.”

Ward Councillors Alan Roughley and John McCann, have already circulated leaflets inviting people to attend a meeting at the Civic Hall, Uppermill, on Friday, to discuss postal issues.

Although denied by Royal Mail, a document leaked to the councillors alleged Royal Mail were examining closing postal sorting offices at Greenfield, Uppermill and Dobcross, move local posties to Oldham and replace them with part-timers.

Councillor Roughley claimed: “There was a secret scheme to do away with the three Saddleworth sorting offices and get rid of six full-time jobs.

‘This week also sees the announcement of new final collection times — as early as 5pm in some villages.”

Councillor McCann said: “Saddleworth businesses, who might receive their first and only post at 3pm, will be really struggling to respond to their customers just two hours later.”

Mike Rooke, secretary of the Greenfield and Grass-croft Residents’ Associa-tion, said: “We are disappointed about reductions of any local services we want to see them improved.”

Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddle-worth, is scheduled to attend Friday’s meeting with representatives from OMBC and the Commun-ications Workers’ Union.

The meeting begins at 8pm.

The Royal Mail notice invites and anyone with queries or comments to contact their customer service team on: 08457 740 740.