West Berkshire warned Royal Mail privatisation 'a disaster'

POSTAL deliveries in rural West Berkshire could be slashed to once each week, union chiefs have warned.
But Newbury MP Richard Benyon has championed plans to privatise the Royal Mail.
Last week the government formally announced a controversial deal to sell off the company, which was formed almost 500 years ago.
Postal workers will be entitled to free shares estimated to be worth £2,000, while members of the public will be able to apply for a minimum £750 in shares in the company.
However, the policy advisor for the national Communication Workers Union, Norman Candy, warned the sale would be calamitous for rural areas.
He said: “We think it’s going to be an absolute disaster for areas like West Berkshire...they won’t have a six day delivery service under privatisation. The change might not be immediately obvious but it will happen eventually – rural areas could be down to one or two deliveries a week.
“At the moment the cities are subsidising rural areas under the rural service obligation but that won’t continue.”
But Mr Benyon insisted: “It’s the right move at the right time.
“The Royal Mail has suffered because it has had to rely on government funding. With this arrangement it will be able to upgrade commercially.
“We have spent a billion pounds in retaining the post office network which has resulted in a stronger royal mail which will use post offices to distribute their mail.
“Every similar privatisation has been a great success, particularly shown in the Netherlands and in Germany and I am sure it will succeed here as well.
“Being in the public sector holds them back and I think privatisation is a really good move.
“The message is that this will provide a better future for the Royal Mail and those who work for it.”
However, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Newbury, Judith Bunting, expressed her concerns at the deal.
“I am really concerned about how it is going to work out and how regular deliveries are going to be,” she said.
“The wonderful thing about the Royal Mail is its reliability. If you post something first class anywhere in the country you know it is nearly always going to get there the next day. I really hope it remains that way.”