London Letter: Express mail

Jonathan Vince, in his article 'Driving Force' (2 August) griped about Royal Mail drivers turning London's St Pancras Way into a Daytona racetrack.

I can exclusively reveal that these drivers are carrying test runs in advance of the imminent closure of the St Pancras Way depot.

Following the anticipated New Year move of our delivery functions to the Upper Street sorting office (in the face of opposition from our local customers who fear a deterioration in service) all our NW1 postmen will have to be given lifts by Royal Mail vans to and from their delivery rounds. Perhaps the drivers are carrying out tests to see how quickly the journey can be made.

NW collections will also soon be made by drivers based at N1. Mail collected from the far flung corners of Mill Hill and Park Royal, currently processed at NW1, will have further to travel to Islington. (To the annoyance of residents.) Dexterity and safe speed during the rush hour will be essential. Or will the logistics cause a reduction in service?

Mr Vince may like to wonder (perhaps in print) why the Royal Mail are about to close a modern building, (presumably to remain empty), while its sister organisation Parcelforce is constructing a new building (probably at great expense) across the road. No, we don't know either.

Mr Vince might like to ask if Royal Mail are currently employing large numbers of untrained casual workers at St Pancras Way and other large sorting offices, and if so why? He might like to wonder about the effect on the quality of service. Does the Independent employ large numbers of semi-literate untrained persons in place of proper journalists at City Road? If not, you would not appear to be an equal opportunities employer.

As Royal Mail staff are expressly forbidden to openly criticise their oppressive management, I must remain yours truly, under a nom de plume.

Peter Putter driver