Postal service criticism


Continued from page one enable us to take the weight off staff's backs,we can reduce cycling accidents involving our staff, and we can eliminate the need to send out older, more polluting vans to replenish postmen and women by sending out all themail, including parcels and Special Delivery, in one go.” However, residents inTovil have not been seeing any ben-


efits. Parish council chairman Chris Morgan-Jones said: “In the past month we have probably had deliveries only three days as week. It’s frustrating.” Cllr Clive English, aparish and borough memberwhoused


to work for Royal Mail, claims that the system has changed from one person sorting and making one delivery, to two people sorting and making “two-and-a-bit” deliveries. “In theory it reduces the cost and enables more flexibility.


In some cases you can get away with it, but in others people are getting deliveries every other day at best. “The longer it takes to prepare the letters, the less time you


will have to deliver them. Postmen are staying in the office longer and spending less time out delivering. This means that there will be more times when they haven’t delivered themail by the end of their hours, so they have to bring some of the mail back. I used to get minutes of Maidstone’s plan- ning committee delivered to me on the following Tuesday orWednesday.Now I get them the next Saturday. “This is a breach of RoyalMail’s terms of operation. It is li- censed to provide a daily delivery to every household and business and address, andwe are not getting that.” The parish council agreed to send a letter of clarification


to Royal Mail, asking for details on how the system has changed. “If we don’t get a good response, we will pursue it with the regulator,” added Cllr English. DownsMail has used the Royal Mail distribution service


for over 14 years and has always worked closelywithMaid- stone delivery managers to ensure everyone receives their local edition of the newspaper. It would seem managers based in a distant head office


have made decisions for Maidstone without taking into ac- count their repercussions. The changes seem to be challeng- ing even the most experienced anddedicated front line staff.


Musical mayor hits right note


MUSIC-loving mayor Brian Mor- timerwas presentedwith a miniature guitar on his first day in office.Andit was in his favourite colour - yellow. Formermayor Denise Joy revealed


that Cllr Mortimer loved the Rolling Stones and the colour yellow. At the mayor-making ceremony in the Town Hall, she said it was the first time she had not seen himwearing a yellow shirt or tie. Cllr Joy then presented him with


themini-instrument. "I'm sure when you have a few minutes in the mayor's parlour you can practise till your heart's content," she joked. Cllr Mortimer, (57), is pictured


with his wife of 33 years, Dianne, a former teacher. They have two chil- dren,Charlotte andChristopher,who were both at the Town Hall to see their dad accept the chain of office. Anative of Folkestone, he attended Senacre Secondary School after his family moved to Maidstone in 1965. After a five-year apprenticeship in electrical engineering, he joined his father in the firm, R&D Mortimer, doing home extensions in and around Maidstone. Cllr Mortimer has represented Cox-


heath and Hunton ward since 1996. His love of music goes back to


when, at the age of nine, his dad bought him an electric box guitar. More recently he has played '50s and '60s music in a band called 2BC. He announced his charities for the


year - STARS, a support group for children who suffer unexplained


blackouts; Dandelion Time, aWest Far- leigh-based charity for young people with major behavioural and emotional problems; plus Age Concern and Help for Heroes. Retiring mayor Eric Hotson thanked


the "incredible generosity" of Maidstone people, businesses and council workers in supporting his chosen charities. He spoke of his year's many high-


lights but also how he had "sobbed" during a visit to Mencap's home inMote Park.


Deputy mayor for the coming year is


Rodd Nelson-Gracie, who represents Marden and Yalding and lives in Net- tlestead Green. He and wife Phillipa have three daughters. He was described as "one of life's real gentlemen" by Cllr Malcolm Robertson, who seconded his appointment.


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