Further Erosion of Postal Services
Dennistoun resident posted on the 22/08/2013 11:34:33 PM
Hi, I'm wondering if I am the only one who has experienced the further erosion of postal services since the closure of Cubie St?
Following the closure of Cubie St, if I missed a delivery, I routinely phoned the  Cambuslang depot and requested my mail be re-delivered.  I found this fairly straighforward if galling, (given I had vehemently disagreed with the closure of Cubie St) This week however,  when I tried to rearrange a delivery, I found I was unable to contact the Cambuslang number, and instead found myself calling a national telephone line.  I found this service  to be, time consuming, unwieldy and ultimately unsatisfactory.
I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience? Â If I am not the only one, and you like me, are sick of the erosion of services within the East End, please contact Willie Bain MP, or any other of the areas elected representatives and complain. Â If we don't raise this as an issue, I fear that not only will the original contact phone number not be reinstated, but chances are that in the future, the service will again deteriorate.
- 9 Replies :
#1 - Dennistoun CC replied on the 23/08/2013 1:06:14 AM
Some people have had success when calling 0141 646 6004 worth a try for direct contact to the new Cambuslang depot.
Alas, there is very little else that can be done that hasn't already been tried.
Dennistoun Community Council was a key member of the SOSO (Save Our Sorting Office) campaign, which co-ordinated a series of attempts at MP, MSP, City Councillor and Community Councillor level (from Dennistoun, Calton, Bridgeton and Dalmarnock areas) to mitigate the effects of the closure of the Cubie Street Royal Mail site.
John Mason MSP lodged a motion to the Scottish Parliament, referencing Cubie St as well as the wider issue of sorting office closures. It attracted cross-party support from 31 other SNP, Labour, and Green MSPs.
Cllr Jennifer Dunn placed a motion before the full Glasgow City Council, which was seconded by Cllr Yvonne Kucuck. The motion had the backing of all the local councillors for the Bridgeton, Dalmarnock, Calton and Dennistoun areas. As a reult, Glasgow Council wrote to Derek McKay MSP, the Scottish government minister, requesting a change in legislation ensuring there is consultation over any Royal Mail closures affecting front line services. The letter was distributed to other councils in Scotland to highlight the issue.
Willie Bain MP referred the matter to UK ministerial level, to a disappointing response.
Humza Yusaf MSP mentioned that in his time as an MSP he'd never been fobbed off with such disdain as when dealing with Royal Mail.
Cllr Elaine McDougall asked why local residents are expected to pick up parcels from Cambuslang when there are two nearer sorting offices.
The Re-GEN newspaper put the SOSO campaign on the front page. SOSO was the lead story on STV Glasgow's Magazine. The Evening Times reported the story. A petition was signed by over 500 people online, and on paper by hundreds. A public meeting was held.
Full details of the campaign can be found at dennistouncc.org.uk/tag/sorting-office and at facebook.com/SOSOCubieSt
As minuted by Dennistoun Community Council in January 2013: "Royal Mail reiterated determination to proceed with their agenda irrespective of the cost to the local population."
In Royal Mail's own words, in response to all of the above: "we now have new world class facilities that will provide the most efficient and effective network for delivering the post".
#2 - anon _l replied on the 23/08/2013 10:02:06 AM
I have had big issues since the closure. I can't ever get through to any number, so use the online service. This service is just as rubbish. It lets you choose a date, but one of the girls at annfield place said it won't ever be delivered on the date you chose, especially if you do it online in the evening, why it lets you chose a date I don't know but I can confirm when I've arrived on said chosen date, my parcel has indeed not been there so i I now go up a couple of days later. The whole thing is a shambles.
#3 - dennistoun resident replied on the 24/08/2013 2:12:52 PM
Tried the 646 6004 number until I lost the will to live. Needless to say no one answered. I accept that despite various protests the Cubie St depot was still closed. However, I do think if we don't re-focus opposition to the current further erosion of services, then the situation will deteriorate even more. Time that the frustrated majority of this area let their elected representatives know that this is an issue that has not gone away. If we don't continue to draw attention to the fact that the Pony Express could re-deliver the mail in a more customer focused manner, then those whose job it is to represent us, will believe the Post Office //, that, the East End now does have "new world class facilities that provide the most efficient and effective network for delivering the post."
#4 - anon replied on the 24/08/2013 9:09:19 PM
Every time I hear following phrase I get annoyed:
"new world class facilities that provide the most efficient and effective network for delivering the post."
It really is a slap in the face - smooth PR words that sound good but mean nothing.
A good service for people is:
a) Having the post actually delivered regularly (this rarely happens in my particular tenement - always things through the door saying the postie tried but I wasn't in - FALSE)
b) Being able to walk a reasonable distance to pick up mail. Not travel to another county. In the middle of an industrial estate. With no public transport links. Do you know people from Cumbernauld use the same depot. Thats totally crazy.
c) Being able to used the pathetic reduced service as specified by Royal Mail - turns out the redelivery number works for a month or so and now the fuss has died down, this number has been casually abandoned.
I have to say, im very disappointed with our elected members on this issue and the state of the buses in Dennistoun. I appreciate that steps have been taken (as well documented by Dennistoun CC - thanks!), but it seems that once they came up against a brick wall they gave up.
I expect my politicians to find ways of taking things further. Transport, mail, litter and anti-social behaviour are the 4 main areas I judge the success of local politicians on and to be honest, almost all of them are a disgrace.
It would be good to see some people elected who could really make an impact and try something radical to sort out these problems.
#5 - happybee replied on the 2/09/2013 2:53:25 PM
Hi,
This might not be popular with the previous posters but I have to say the online redelivery service works fine for me. If I ask for redelivery to local post office it will be there usually 2 days after original delivery attempt (which is usually the first possible date anyway; but I don't get why I need to pay for that service). If I ask for redelivery to my flat it gets delivered on the day I requested and usually fairly early in the morning which is handy since I can only do that on my days off and it means I've got the rest of the day for my own plans.
I'm not in cahoots with the Royal Mail in anyway - just wanted to let people know that it can work.
Have you chatted to your postman and asked why some things don't work as requested in your close? One of ours a few months back didn't know which bell to try during the day - the ones he tried were for full-time workers. Since they know who might be in during the day things are back to good service and timely delivery.
Sometimes talking nicely to the people on the ground works well?!
#6 - anon_l replied on the 2/09/2013 3:55:25 PM
Funnily enough I spoke to my local postie who is more or less run ragged. He's often still delivering after 4pm when I get in from work. He was saying on saturday at around 1pm that he hadnt delivered any of the normal mail as he had been delivering parcels which he's not able to physically carry along with all the envelopes. I really feel for him and totally dont blame the posties for the way things are. They are doing their job to the best of their abilities.
With regards to the redelivery service, well it let me choose last Monday to have it delivered to the postoffice, except because it was a bank holiday in England, they wouldnt be able to do it (why let me chose that date then) I'm still trying to work out where my parcel is. According to them they'd try and redeliver to my home address, but suprise suprise they never.
#7 - anon replied on the 2/09/2013 10:35:32 PM
Happybe, youve kind of contradicted yourself with your own post:
"but I don't know why you need to pay for the service"
Exactly - what kind of service makes you pay twice for the same thing?
I'm not criticising the posties. I can see the sweat lashing from them when I have to sign for a delivery. They are overworked. But, from my experience this has led to them taking (understandable I suppose) shortcuts.
Not good enough for me though. I pay for items and expect them to be delivered on time. I've stopped buying lots of things online because its too much strife.
My gripe is with the bosses of Royal Mail, not the people delivering the mail.
#8 - Postman Pat replied on the 5/09/2013 8:48:32 PM
"Sometimes talking nicely to the people on the ground works well?!"
You are so correct it is nice to be nice, but the difficulty is when the workers on the ground agree with your sentiments but our management offers no solutions. The postal service is eroding a once valued service.
#9 - Postman Pat replied on the 5/09/2013 8:50:59 PM
"Sometimes talking nicely to the people on the ground works well?!"
You are so correct it is nice to be nice, but the difficulty is when the workers on the ground agree with your sentiments but our management offers no solutions. The postal service is eroding a once valued service.
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