Royal Mail Delivery Office, Kidsgrove, Staffordshire
The Petition of residents of Kidsgrove, Staffordshire and others,
Declares that the Petitioners believe that the proposed relocation of the Royal Mail Delivery Office from Kidsgrove to Newcastle-under-Lyme, without consultation with local people and businesses, will result in a deterioration of local services, will be detrimental to local businesses, and cause an increased carbon footprint.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to take all possible steps to ensure that Royal Mail consults with local partners to improve delivery services in line with the commercial and domestic needs of the Kidsgrove, ST7 area and reviews the proposed relocation accordingly.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Joan Walley, Official Report, 13 December 2011; Vol. 537, c. 762.]
[P000988]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills:
The Government recognise that any changes to local delivery offices may raise concerns about the impact of such changes on local postal services.
The restructuring of Royal Mail’s delivery operations, not just in Kidsgrove but right across the UK, forms part of its much needed national programme of modernisation. This programme will ensure that the company has the right delivery infrastructure in the right locations to enable it to deliver the universal postal service as effectively and efficiently as possible. Given the very real challenges facing the business, such as the falling volumes of letters, modernisation and transformation of its network is essential if it is to thrive and the universal postal service is to be maintained.
Responsibility for the restructuring is an operational matter which rests with Royal Mail’s senior management team.
When planning any operational changes, the company will always give due consideration to how best it can continue to protect the interests of its customers and ensure it delivers a high quality service.
The company conducts a consultation process with its staff and unions on its restructuring plans, but it is not obliged to consult publicly on its proposals. However, it aims to keep all interested stakeholders informed, engaged and updated as its plans develop.