Royal Mail's final phase of a £5.7 million development to keep up with booming Brad-ford's postal needs is open.

Now all of the 690,000 items of post destined for South Bradford - be they letters or junk mail, bills or cheques - will come through the new warehouse-style building.

The purpose-built office on the site of the old Manchester Road Railway Station, at Stone Arches, off Ripley Street boasts the most modern, state-of-the-art letter-sorting equipment. It has been named John Fraser House in honour of the Great Northern Railway Company engineer who planned and supervised the construction of the line which ran from Bradford to Halifax and Keighley via Queensbury.

It is certainly quite a change of environment for the 160 staff who were working in the cramped conditions of the old office in Forster Court.

They have also been joined by 20 other new staff to serve 56,000 business in Low Moor, Wibsey, Buttershaw, Great Horton, Little Horton, Odsal, Holme Wood, Bierley and Wyke.

The development, which cost £2 million, follows the building of a similar facility in Inkersley Road to serve the north of the city.

Both buildings will mean the sorting takes place nearer their final destination, and so more of the postmen and women can go out directly on foot or by bike.

Royal Mail's Area Manager Andrew Lamb, who officially opened the building yesterday said: "The growth of Bradford mail is significant, particularly from the business sector, and will continue to be. Previously it's fair to say we were struggling to cope because we didn't have the space available at Forster Court.

"By investing in this office we are responding to the needs of our customers and providing them with an even better service.

"And, as a good employer, we are delighted to be able to improve working conditions for our staff."

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