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Enforcement action against Royal Mail has been welcomed following many months of parking problems ‘negatively impacting’ an estate community.
The postal business was accused of shifting its parking issue from its delivery office in Skyliner Way, Moreton Hall, in Bury St Edmunds, onto the estate’s roads when it banned workers from leaving their own vehicles in the on-site car park towards the end of last year.
Residents spoke of their fears that someone was ‘going to get hurt’ on the roads after the move led to Royal Mail staff parking their personal vehicles in nearby streets.
At the last meeting of Moreton Hall Residents’ Association (MHRA), residents voted unanimously to see West Suffolk Council take action over the breach of planning regarding the delivery office car park.
West Suffolk Council, the local planning authority, has now served a notice on Royal Mail, giving it five weeks to comply or risk court proceedings and a fine.
Cllr Cliff Waterman, leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “We can confirm that a breach of condition notice has been served on the Royal Mail.
“The notice gives Royal Mail five weeks to stop parking fleet and commercial vehicles in an area it has designated under a planning condition for use as private car parking.
“Any failure to comply is a criminal offence which could result in court proceedings and a fine for the business. Given these potential proceedings, we cannot comment any further at this time.”
Andy McGowan, vice-chair of MHRA, said: “We welcome the fact that action is now being taken to address this issue – an issue which has been negatively impacting local residents and local roads for over a year now.
“At our last meeting, Moreton Hall residents in attendance voted unanimously for wanting to see the planning permission breach enforced.
“With Royal Mail likely to be taking on even more staff over the seasonal months, it is vital that they take this enforcement seriously and swiftly identify a solution which works not just for them, but also for local residents and road users.
“The Moreton Hall Residents’ Association has been, and will continue to be, ready to work with Royal Mail on this solution – but it cannot be one that means that local residents are the ones who are losing out.”
Steve Hubbard, who lives off Primack Road, said the parking issues had been ‘horrendous’ and a ‘massive inconvenience’.
He spoke of a confrontation with a Royal Mail worker just yesterday in Primack Road as he was driving to work, adding the road can be clogged up with parked vehicles by 7am.
But he added: “I don’t blame the [Royal Mail] workers. It’s a horrible position for them to be in.”
He suggested businesses working together on a solution, for example a link-up with another business to use its car park.
Cllr Rowena Lindberg also welcomed the news about the breach of condition notice, but said she regrets that ‘Royal Mail did not engage in meaningful dialogue with myself and the other councillors, and the local community, before reaching this point’.
“I do hope that they will now work constructively to resolve the matter and restore good relations with the local community,” she added.
Royal Mail has been approached for comment.
SuffolkNews has previously asked Royal Mail what alternative options for staff parking were being considered, but did not get a response.
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