Royal Mail Sorting Office Closure Meeting..

[singalto]

Royal Mail had no representative although there was a union member to explain the plans. We need to lobby Moya Green, the CEO.

[JW]

Did they say the best way to do this? I am keen to voice my concern, but I wanted to find out the best channel to do this through. Does anybody know?

[DulwichFox]

I was at last nights meeting.

A Representative from the Communication Workers Union (Steve ??) was there.

No one from Royal Mail was in attendance. Steve explained that there is no obligation

from Royal Mail to be there and they were not obliged to have any consultation with

local residents regarding the closure of the Silvester Rd Sorting Office.

He explained that the current depot is not fit for purpose. The condition of the building is poor.

Staff tolerate the conditions because of its location and relative ease of parking.

There are no facilities for parking at the new depot which is situated at 2-4 Highshore Rd, London SE15 5AU

Details here.

https://www.bing.com/maps?&ty=18&q=Royal%20Mail%20London%20Greater%20London&ss=ypid.YN1029x10282755004842865760&ppois=51.4717788696289_-0.0709370002150536_Royal%20Mail_YN1029x10282755004842865760~&cp=51.471779~-0.070937&v=2&sV=1

It would seem that the Highshore Rd. site is already crowded so extra staff would make the situation worse.

Travelling to Peckham will be of great inconvenience to all that need to collect undelivered mail.

It was suggested that local residents need to write to Royal Mail. to express their disapproval or launch petitions.

I cannot personally see any way that this decision can be turned around.

DulwichFox

[Sue]

I was also at the meeting.

The main problem with the current ED delivery office is that it is not big enough for present requirements, with the increase in online shopping etc, so that sometimes the staff have been required to sort items outside.

It was not clear whether or not Royal Mail had considered other options (eg one person at the meeting suggested relocating to a unit on the ED industrial estate), but given the value of the site and the fact that Royal Mail is now privatised, it seems that they are likely to prioritise getting money from the sale over the convenience of local residents.

I queried whether the existing office could be expanded outwards or upwards, but really the sorting all needs to be done on one level.

A Union rep from the Peckham office was also there, and they aren't very keen on this proposed move either. Although there is room for the actual sorting requirements, the callers' office is apparently not very big.

Helen Hayes said that within Southwark, West Norwood was also affected, and in that case residents would be required to collect post/parcels from Anerley, which is actually "skipping over" the nearest office to West Norwood.

There is a suggestion that the library, local shops or (as I think is available now) the Post Office could be used as pick-up points in ED, however this depends on sufficient space being available and I imagine there could be a charge.

If the ED office does become combined with the Peckham office, and if pick up point/s for undelivered items are made available in ED, those undelivered items would be taken back from ED to Peckham for resorting and then brought back to the ED pick-up point/s.

Although this seems inefficient, it is because trying to sort stuff into a logical order at the pick-up points would be a nightmare.

Another issue raised is that because of the time taken for posties to get from Peckham to East Dulwich and back to do their delivery, each postie's "walk" would be shorter, though there would have to be more of them. It wasn't entirely clear how this would affect deliveries, although apparently even at the moment there is a cut-off time of 3pm.

Helen Hayes suggested writing to Royal Mail's CEO and copying her in (and possibly local councillors) so that she (and they) get a feel for how many people have done this, and can use it in any campaign.

Out of interest, apparently there was no requirement to consult residents in a case like this even before privatisation, and as Helen said, she was sure Royal Mail's lawyers would have made absolutely sure that they were acting legally.

I wasn't taking notes, having stupidly forgotten to bring any paper with me, so apologies if any of the above is wrong, though I don't think it is.

I had to leave slightly before the end of the meeting, so I don't know how it concluded.

[Penguin68]

This link may help in correspondence

http://www.ceoemail.com/s.php?id=ceo-9559

[DulwichFox]

Thanks for the above input Sue.. I think it is spot on with what was discussed.

You did not miss anything. the meeting was more or less concluded as you left. Just a reminder for people to

complete the form many of us received through our door.

Foxy

[Charlie Smith]

Following on from last nights meeting, Helen Hayes has asked me to publicise the on line survey. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/royalmailclosures

We are also delivering hard copies of the survey throughout the East Dulwich ward. As was said at the meeting, the Royal Mail will receive a quite substantial sum for selling the sorting office building and if they believe in good customer relations then an alternative venue for collecting mail and parcels should be established in East Dulwich.

I would also recommend writing to the CEO of Royal Mail letting her know how unhappy we all are with this proposal.

Yours Sincerely

Councillor Charlie Smith

Deputy Mayor of Southwark

East Dulwich Labour Member

[Penguin68]

It is not just the East Dulwich Ward which is impacted by this closure. Parts at least of College Ward is as well (as Helen Hayes should know!).

[Jennys]

People living in at least some of Village Ward are also currently directed to this sorting office to collect parcels etc.

[Charlie Smith]

Dear Penquin68,you are correct and I should have said, we will be delivering a paper version of the survey to all addresses in the SE22 area. This will of course include parts of the Village and College Wards.

Hope this has been useful.

Yours Sincerely

Councillor Charlie Smith

Deputy Mayor of Southwark

East Dulwich Ward Labour Member

[Sue]

Just to add, although the circumstances were slightly different (though I can't remember why) Helen Hayes said that Black heath residents had successfully resisted Royal Mail's attempts to move their delivery office to Greenwich.

This success was in large part due to pressure from influential residents' associations (I think).

Does anyone else who was at the meeting have a better recollection of what was said?

[singalto]

That's pretty well what she said... We need to get Peckham residents on side too!

[cazfay]

I live in SE22, this is my local sorting office and I have not received a single bit of information about this closure formally. That is appalling. I have only found out about it via this forum.

Very cross indeed I will be expected to collect heavy and bulky items, on the bus at Peckham- I simply will not be able to manage this due to health issues.

I have completed the survey monkey survey above

[lavender27]

Hi cazfay, there is an option for PO to re-deliver at a time that suits you, if that is any help to you. I agree, We haven't received any info either. 😞

[Sue]

I presume nobody has received any info because apparently Royal Mail are not obliged to consult residents, nor apparently were they before privatisation.

[RecorderSue]

I haven't received any info about this through my letterbox, and couldn't attend the meeting as i was away for work.

[singalto]

Lavender27, the union man from the sorting office said that re-deliveries could not be done at a time to suit, only the day...

[Penguin68]

As suggested I have written to the Royal Mail CEO (e-mailed on Sunday) - and have received this reply today

Thank you for your e-mail about the future of your local Delivery Office. I have asked my senior team to look into this for you straightaway.

Yours sincerely

Moya Greene

Chief Executive Officer

At least their CEO's Office team is working properly...now to see what they say...

[Sue]

Many moons ago I used to write replies like that for Royal Mail.

Your letter will get passed to someone like me to investigate, liaise with the appropriate people and draft a reply for the CEO 😀 but yes it will get dealt with quickly because you have gone to the top.

I intend to write to her too, let's hope if there's enough pressure we can at least persuade them to look at other options, eh.

[DulwichFox]

I do not know if the Building has any 'Listed Status' if that is the correct terminology.

If the Building were to have a 'Listed Status' or 'Listed Status' were to be applied for,

it would be difficult to get a change of use and make the building difficult to sell.

Just a thought..

DulwchFox

[Penguin68]

Your letter will get passed to someone like me to investigate, liaise with the appropriate people and draft a reply for the CEO 😀 but yes it will get dealt with quickly because you have gone to the top.

I, too, have worked in Private Offices and know how they work (and cc-ing our MP won't have harmed my position) - a couple of hours after Moya Greene's office responded on her behalf, I have now received the following:-

Thank you for contacting Moya Greene. As part of Moya?s senior team, I have been asked to look into your complaint.

I?m sorry to hear that the planned delivery office relocation will cause you and other residents in the area a great deal of inconvenience. I will investigate the thoughts behind this decision and will pass on your feedback. When I have an update I will contact you again.

If you have any concerns in the meantime please don?t hesitate to contact me.

Kind Regards

One might assume that the final decision, whatever it is and whenever it's made, at least won't happen without senior management being aware of it - and therefore feeling some slight element of responsibility. With an MP in the loop, avoiding a PQ (even when it's a nationalised industry) is something most CEO's want.

[edhistory]

We have already put in an application for listed status.

This is now just parked pending a formal planning application that puts the building at risk.

Another application from someone else might help.

John K

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I do not know if the Building has any 'Listed

> Status' if that is the correct terminology.

>

> If the Building were to have a 'Listed Status' or

> 'Listed Status' were to be applied for,

> it would be difficult to get a change of use and

> make the building difficult to sell.

>

> Just a thought..

>

> DulwchFox

[ed_pete]

On what criteria did you apply for listed status ?

[KidKruger]

"messageRe: Royal Mail Sorting Office Closure Meeting.. new

Posted by DulwichFox Today, 04:02PM

I do not know if the Building has any 'Listed Status' if that is the correct terminology.

If the Building were to have a 'Listed Status' or 'Listed Status' were to be applied for,

it would be difficult to get a change of use and make the building difficult to sell.

Just a thought..

DulwchFox"

Foxy - my understanding is anyone can make an application for a building to be listed, any council's planning website will have links to forms for this. It is free I believe, unless you want it fast-tracked.

I

[rendelharris]

edhistory Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> We have already put in an application for listed

> status.

>

> This is now just parked pending a formal planning

> application that puts the building at risk.

>

> Another application from someone else might help.

>

> John K

Good luck and I completely support your cause, though it doesn't affect me as I live quite near the Peckham office, but I can't really see this forcing Royal Mail to change their minds - they can't be forced to keep it open because it's listed, and even if it obtains Grade II listing (the highest it could hope for) that, as I understand it, only means alterations by new owners would have to be "sensitive." But hope I'm wrong!