Royal Mail confirms that city’s sorting office will close its doors next month

The controversial overhaul imposed by the Royal Mail as part of its bid to cut costs which will see the city’s mail sorting offices move across to West Yorkshire when operations are centralised in Leeds.

Last night a spokeswoman confirmed that the changes were due to be completed by the end of February. Felicity MacFarlane, a spokeswoman for the Royal Mail, said last night: “Mail processing operations are being transferred to the newly refurbished Leeds Mail Centre by the end of February 2013.

“The York Central Delivery Office and its operation based at Leeman Road is unaffected.”

The Royal Mail has stressed the changes are “vital” as part of a national streamlining of the organisation.

The move to West Yorkshire will see 157 jobs go in York, with about 60 workers transferring to Leeds. The remainder have either opted to become postal delivery workers or are taking voluntary redundancy.

The spokeswoman added: “We need to modernise in response to the decline in volume of mail and to introduce the latest technology to our sorting centres.

“The expansion of our Leeds site represents a significant investment by Royal Mail in services in North East Yorkshire.

“This move is an important part of our programme to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of our operation by making the best possible use of our
buildings, machinery and resources.”

York Central MP Hugh Bayley has previously raised concerns about the changes.