Altrincham Post Office is Moving
OLD LOCATION NOW VACATED
Post Office® Altrincham branch 70 Stamford New Road, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 1AB
News
23 August 2006
Post Office staff to walk out in Greater Manchester
CWU Post Office staff
in Greater Manchester have voted overwhelmingly with 69.7% in favour of
industrial action in protest at continuing closures, job losses and a
new franchise agreement with WHSmith.
345 members in 27 Crown (directly managed) offices across the Greater
Manchester area were balloted in response to management’s
decision to close offices in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Ashton-under-Lyne and
Altrincham, Cheshire. The last two offices are due to be franchised to
WHSmith.
CWU Territorial rep Kieran Quinn said: “This ballot result
clearly shows the strength of feeling among our members. Our members
are not prepared to stand aside and see their industry die, they are
standing up to defend their jobs and the postal service.
“We will minimise the impact on customers of any action that we
take as result of this ballot. Any adverse effects to customers will be
due to management’s handling of the situation and not the
legitimate protest of our members.”
CWU Assistant
Secretary Andy Furey said: “These members have shown Post Office
Ltd that closures, job losses and poor franchise agreements are
unacceptable and will not be suffered lightly.
“POL and WHSmith should now seriously reconsider their position
and learn to value the hardworking, long-serving front line staff who
deliver first class postal services.”
New Location:
In their consultation letter the Post Office state:
" At present, Post Office Ltd own and manage the above Post Office branch.
Our intention is to enter into a franchise agreement with WHSmith
Retail, who will manage Altrincham Post Office branch on behalf of Post
Office Ltd from their existing premises at 8 -12 George Street,
Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 1SF, 400 yards away from the current
site.
In partnership
with us, WHSmith Retail will continue to provide the high standard of
service and range of products currently available at Altrincham Post
Office branch. The new branch will be carefully integrated into their
nearby retail store, and will remain fully accessible for customers.
As you will be
aware WHSmith Retail is one of the UK's leading retail groups, who
currently operate 542 high street stores and 127 travel stores at
airport and station locations nationwide, selling a wide range of
newspapers, magazines, stationery, books and entertainment products.
As one of the
country's most popular stationers, booksellers and newsagents, we are
confident that they have the customer focus, appropriate knowledge and
retail experience to enable them to continue to provide a high standard
of service to our customers in Altrincham. Furthermore we are sure that
the extensive range of stationery and associated goods, which WHSmith
Retail offer will complement the wide range of main Post Office
services that will continue to be available following the transfer.
We have agreed a
Code of Practice on how we deal with a range of branch network change
with Postwatch, our independent consumer council. As part of that Code
of Practice, Postwatch recognised that the decision to transfer a Post
Office branch to a franchise partner is a commercial decision to be
taken solely by Post Office Ltd and is, therefore, not subject to
public debate or consent.
However, it is
important to us that you understand the rationale behind our decision
and that you also have the opportunity to comment on the facilities
which will be available at the new branch.
In
view of this, we are inviting feedback from you and our other customers
who regularly visit the branch, on the following areas; the proposed
opening hours at the new branch; access arrangements into the new
branch; the,facilities that are planned for the new branch.
Any correspondence received by us will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Full details of
what will be provided at the new branch are detailed overleaf. Also
available, within the branch, is a leaflet providing the answers to
frequently asked questions about why Post Office Ltd franchises
branches.
What will the new Altrincham Post Office branch offer?
• Extended opening hours as follows; Mon-Sat 09,00-17.30
The same wide range of main Post Office services currently available at
Altrincham Post Office branch including; personal banking; financial services;
car tax renewal; Post Office card account; passport application checking and
foreign currency services.
Six serving positions, comprising of five open plan and one traditional style
position, designated primarily for Bureau de Change/ Giro business
transactions that has the flexibility to be utilised for all other Post Office
transactions, during busy periods.
WHSmith Retail is keen to ensure there is continued good access to Post
Office services. There will be level access, with the addition of automatic
doors. Internally, it is planned that the new Post Office counter area will be
located on the first floor and can be accessed via a customer lift, or stairs.
The Post Office counter area will be carefully integrated into the current store,
providing adequate room for Post Office and retail customers alike.
Low level writing desk and serving counter, plus an induction hearing loop for
those customers with hearing difficulties.
Car parking will remain as present, with facilities available at Regent Road,
which has 180 spaces and offers a Shop mobility service; High Street with 665
spaces and Goose Green with 431 spaces. Usual charges apply. All car parks
have spaces allocated for disabled drivers.
Public transport services will remain as present.
On site WHSmith retail store, providing customers the opportunity to purchase
an extensive range of newspapers, stationery and associated goods under one
roof.
Proposed month of transfer: September 2006
Please note: 22nd August 2006 is the closing date by which all feedback is to be received.
Exceptionally
in this instance we have extended public consultation by one week to
allow for the summer holidays being taken during August.
Contact details are as follows;
Byron Roberts
Programme Director
Post Office Ltd, c/o National Consultation Team
PO Box 2060, WATFORD WD18 8ZW
Customer Helpline: 08457 22 33 44
Post Office Ltd. Registered in England and Wales Number: 2154540.
Registered Office: 80-86 Old Street London EC1V 9NN
The Post Office® is able to supply customers with this information, free of charge,
in an alternative format for people who are visually impaired.
To obtain a copy, call the Post Office® helpline on 08457 22 33 44 or textphone 08457 22 33 55. "
BBC TV Licensing to move from Bristol to Mumbai
Communication Workers Union is launching a public campaign to
heighten awareness of the risk to the public due to the lack of
security of bank details in Indian Call centres.
Andy Furey added “We know that UK customers do not want their
bank and other personal details sent abroad and we call upon the BBC to
intervene in this matter and reverse Capita’s cynical decision.
With recent media reports about the inaccuracies and flaws in Criminal
Records checks made in Indian call centres- it begs the question why
are companies still prepared to take the risk. Many blue chip
organisations have reversed the policy of outsourcing to India back to
the UK because of concerns about security. Capita is moving
in the opposite direction”.