Sorting office to shut due to 'tough trading conditions' (From Borehamwood Times)

Radlett Sorting Office to shut due to 'tough trading conditions', say Royal Mail

5:26pm Friday 28th September 2012 in News By Anna Slater

Postal bosses have been forced to shut a sorting office in Radlett because of “increasingly tough trading conditions”.

Radlett Sorting Offices, in Watling Street, will shut next year forcing angry residents to travel an extra four miles to collect packages from Shenley Road, Borehamwood.

Sally Hopkins, spokeswoman for Royal Mail, said: “We are faced with declining mail volumes and increasingly tough trading conditions.

“The consolidation of our delivery offices will play a major part in allowing us to place the business on a sound, secure and stable footing.

“We do appreciate this move will impact on customers and our planning activities always give due consideration as to how we can protect and serve the interests of customers.”

Radlett residents are “fuming” about the closure, and told the Borehamwood and Elstree Times that the post office is an “integral part of village life”.

Those without a car will also be forced to take a bus from Radlett to Borehamwood, which only comes once an hour.

Ms Hopkins continued: “We are confident that moving the Radlett operation will provide improved working conditions, secure employment and a cost effective operation.

“There will not be any compulsory redundancies as part of the move and we will reimburse our staff any extra milage incurred by the changes in their place of work.”

She added that Royal Mail have recently been given the go ahead to leave items too big for a letterbox with neighbours.