The Royal Mail has massively reduced the opening times at its Harrogate delivery office on Claro Road.
The site, where people collect mail they missed when it was delivered to their homes, is now open for just 14 hours a week.
It previously served customers for 42 hours a week, which means the service has been cut by two-thirds.
It is now open from 8am to 10am Monday to Friday and from 8am to noon on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday.
It was previously open from 8am to 4pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, from 8am to noon on Monday and from 8am to 6pm on Thursday. It opened from 8am to noon on Saturday and closed on Sunday.
The Royal Mail is reducing its opening times to two hours a day at half of its delivery offices.
Local people have expressed anger on social media about the changes, with many saying the times are inconvenient for people who work. One said:
“Why bother opening, most people are at work between them times. Saturday mornings are going to be busy.”
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‘Reduced need’
The Royal Mail said there was reduced need for customer service points, such as those provided at Claro Road in Harrogate.
A spokesperson said:
“We understand the importance that some customers attach to customer service points as one of a number of ways in which they can access our services. An increase in doorstep services such as Parcel Collect and Safeplace are helping us to enhance customer convenience and deliver more parcels first time.
“In May this year, we also introduced automatic redelivery of parcels the next working day across the UK for customers who are not at home when posties attempt to deliver the first time. Over 99% of parcels are now successfully delivered to customers on the first or second delivery attempt. This is reducing the need for customers to collect parcels from customer service points.
“To keep pace with the changing behaviour of our customers, we have amended the opening hours of customer service points. We have a range of options free-of-charge for customers who want to arrange for an item to be redelivered. Details of how to arrange this can be found on our website.
“Approximately half of customer service point opening hours have remained at their current times.”
Some Harrogate residents are still waiting to receive letters about the latest cycle plans for Otley Road and Beech Grove — even though a meeting to discuss the scheme is due to be held today.
North Yorkshire County Council announced on October 19 it would hold “further public engagement on phase two of Otley Road cycle route, its links with Beech Grove and the town centre”.
It added “letters to residents in the vicinity of the scheme will be delivered next week”.
But some homes have yet to receive them, even though a meet-the-designer event is due to be held at the civic centre today.
Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said:
“Over 1,400 letters were distributed during the week commencing October 24 in the vicinity of Otley Road, Beech Grove, Victoria Road and Queens Road.
“We have however been made aware of some pocketed locations where letters have not been received and we have been working to get these letters distributed this week.”
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Asked how many homes had not received the letter, a council spokeswoman said it “wouldn’t know the exact figure”. The letters were posted by Royal Mail and the council has reissued them when they were alerted to problems.
Barry Adams, who lives on Otley Road, said hardly anyone he had spoken to was aware of the consultation, which he described as a “sham”. He added:
“It’s so typical of Area 6 highways when they organise any public consultation and has happened before. In my opinion they should start the whole process again and do it properly this time.”
Views on cycling
The public engagement opened last month as part of the latest bid to promote active travel in the town.
The council is asking residents and people who travel in Harrogate to suggest what improvements could be made to the area on and around Oatlands Drive.
It is also consulting on phase two of Otley Road cycle route, its links with Beech Grove and the town centre ahead of construction.
It is hoped the proposed schemes will encourage residents and visitors to opt for walking and cycling and reduce traffic congestion.
Three options for the Otley Road route are being considered. Today’s meet the designer event at the civic centre from 4.30pm to 7pm will give stakeholder groups and residents the opportunity to discuss the options.
The results will be considered this month with construction due to begin in summer next year.
Fifteen Harrogate postal workers self-isolating after covid case
A total of 15 postal workers in Harrogate are self-isolating following a positive covid test from a member of staff at Royal Mail’s delivery office on Claro Road.
The company said any disruption caused to the regular postal service “has been kept to a minimum” due to the flexibility of remaining staff members.
Following the positive case, the company undertook a deep clean of the site.
The Communication Workers Union and Public Health England are being kept updated.
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A Royal Mail spokesperson said:
“There is currently one colleague who has tested positive for coronavirus at Harrogate delivery office. We wish them a speedy recovery. Some colleagues are also self-isolating due to the test and trace app.
“We have carried out an intensive clean of the site and have organised additional cleaning of key touch points and all communal areas.
“We are keeping the CWU, PHE and colleagues updated. Any disruption to deliveries as a result of the absences, has been kept to a minimum through the dedication and flexibility of the delivery postmen and women who remain at work.”