Closure of delivery offices leads to big queues for collecting parcels in Bradford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Closure of delivery offices leads to big queues for collecting parcels in Bradford

6:00am Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News

The service at a Royal Mail delivery office in Bradford has been criticised by one customer who said customers face an hour-long queue at times to collect their parcels.

Extra demand at the North Delivery Office in Inkersley Road, near Forster Square Retail Park, has been caused by the closure of the Bradford West, Shipley and Bingley delivery offices.

Royal Mail said at the time that the move would enable it to take advantage of new, modern facilities at Bradford North and underlined the company's commitment to improving mail services and investing in Bradford.

But professional dog walker, Pippa Murray, 43, of Nab Wood, Shipley, criticised the set up after she said her Saturday morning was ruined when she went to collect a parcel.

She said: “Collecting post is never convenient if you work and this was increasing my drive to about a eight-mile round trip.

“The depot looked huge so inside I was expecting a modern post office collection point. However, I could barely get in the door there were so many people there.

“I had to ask where the end of the queue was. The queue was so long it was spiralling around upon itself.

“The room was the size of an average bedroom. I arrived at 11.15am, finally reached the collection point (only three counters) and had to wait a further five minutes for the staff member to find my parcel.

“I had timed other people once they reach the counter, one man who had been far in front of me in the queue, still hadn't received his parcel by the time I had left. The queue was outside the door and those in it must have faced an hour-long wait.”

Miss Murray added: “This is a ludicrous scenario.

“I fail to see how any of this is "modernisation". It seems a completely backward step.

“I also fail to see how this dire state of affairs was not anticipated by the those in charge of Royal Mail.

“I run my own business and it seems obvious to me that if a company closes multiple collection points in other towns to one main collection point, then a building with only three counters (and no capacity for more) would be wholly inadequate. I dread to think how long the waiting times will be at Christmas.”

Royal Mail spokesman, Felicity MacFarlane, said: “We apologise to customers who have experienced delays when collecting items from our inquiry office.

“We have recently introduced some changes to our mail operations in the Bradford area and these changes require a period of adjustment for staff as they bed in.

“Royal Mail is reviewing our opening hours to help improve the service as well as providing extra staffing to ensure a speedier service when customers arrive at the office.

“Customers do not need to travel to the delivery office if they do not wish to do so. Royal Mail also offers a free redelivery on a day of a customer’s choice, including Saturdays or to another address in the same postcode area.

The North Delivery Office’s opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, from 7am to 5pm, and Wednesday 7am to 8pm.