Related Articles
Residents in a Lincolnshire town face a ‘use it or lose it’ dilemma over their local Post Office after Royal Mail announced plans to relocate one of its sorting offices. The move has sparked concerns about the future of Woodhall Spa’s Post Office, which shares premises with the sorting office.
Royal Mail says the changes, which are due to take place in January 2024, will improve service efficiency, but others say it could put its future at risk. A notice in the Woodhall Spa Post Office window warns: “This action by Royal Mail results in a substantial loss of income for Woodhall Spa Post Office, putting the future of the business at risk.”
It urges the community to support the Post Office by maximising its use.
Poll: How often do you shop in Lincoln city centre?
District councillor Craig Leyland said: “Don’t travel elsewhere to use the service, and don’t do stuff online – use your local post office, which keeps people employed locally and keeps the post office open.” He added: “The Post Office and the Royal Mail are now commercial operations.
“The efficiency of Royal Mail with its single Woodhall Spa sorting office moving its delivery is a commercial decision. That impacts on the viability of the Post Office because of the shared premises and it’s a great concern locally.”
He emphasised that the potential loss of the Post Office would deal a severe blow to both residents and local businesses. But despite some challenges, Councillor Leyland noted the village’s vibrancy, with its ‘bustling’ High Street and numerous tourist attractions.
Responding to these concerns, a Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We understand the concern such a relocation of service may cause for residents in the area. This relocation will allow us to reduce costs, provide modern and suitable facilities for our postmen and women, and assist in our drive to improve the quality of service for our customers.”
