Hopefully Gloucester’s Christmas card envelopes have had a splash of colour this year.  Last week I joined Gloucester postal workers to campaign, in conjunction with the Communication Workers Union (CWU), to save our mail centre at Eastern Avenue.

The bright yellow stickers, highlighting the ‘Not Via Swindon’ campaign were designed to send a clear message to Royal Mail.  They will also be a great moral booster for postal workers at Eastern Avenue busy collecting, sorting and delivering all our Christmas greetings at this busy time of year.

This week I met with the Royal Mail regional representative, Head of External Relations and Project Manager to discuss my concerns.  I have to say, I am still not convinced that their arguments stack up in support of moving to Swindon.

The impact of this move would be disastrous – on local people and job security, on the City and its economy, and on the environment.  It is hard to believe that just as everyone else is talking about how we can reduce carbon emissions and halt climate change, Royal Mail want to send our mail via Swindon.

It does not make sense to say that a Christmas card posted in Podsmead to a relative in Barnwood would end up travelling at least 70 miles to Swindon and back.  And if you add to that the number of staff who might have to commute to the new Mail Centre, often unable to use public transport because of shift times, there are around 4 million miles of environmental reasons why this scheme should be scrapped. 

I am campaigning against this move with David Drew MP (Stroud) and Martin Salter MP (Reading) whose constituencies would also be affected.  We have requested figures and further meetings with senior managers at Royal Mail to fight these plans. Jim Fitzpatrick MP, the Minister for Postal Services, has agreed to meet us in the New Year and we will be letting him know about our strong concerns and registering the protests of hundreds of postal staff and customers who are opposed to these plans. 
    
As we approach the last posting dates before Christmas, make sure you get your stickers or just write and highlight your message on your envelopes and support the campaign: ‘Not Via Swindon – Save Gloucestershire’s Mail Centre’.  You can also show your support by signing the on-line petition at www.savegloucestermailcentre.co.uk.  Stickers are available from the CWU: 01452 333970  

Parmjit Dhanda MP