Postmen to lose bikes in Bognor Regis

The traditional sight of the men and women on their two-wheelers will become history by mid-summer.

The radical changes will also see familiar posties moved from the areas and residents they have got to know so well for as long as ten years.

Homeowners have reacted with anger to the alterations.

Communication Workers’ Union representative at Royal Mail’s Bognor delivery office, Paul Mountain, said: “All the bikes are going, which is not ideal.

“Most of the staff are not happy about it.

“But it’s all part of a national agreement and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

The scrapping of the red and white bikes follows a national deal about two years ago between Royal Mail and the union.

The change will begin in Felpham village, Middleton and Barnham from May 9.

About four weeks later, rounds in the town centre stretching out to South Bersted and Aldwick will switch.

These will be followed by Pagham and other outlying areas another month or so later.

The replacement of the cycling posties will also see staff numbers at the office cut by 15 to 103.

The new routine will see post within a mile of the Clarence Road delivery office delivered on foot with a high capacity trolley weighing up to 105kg.

These have been in use in the town centre for a couple of years.

Addresses further afield will be reached by two posties sharing a van.

They will then use smaller trolleys to cover specific areas in loops returning to the parked van.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We will be making changes to our delivery practices in Bognor, Middleton on Sea and Pagham as part of the ongoing modernisation of Royal Mail across the UK.

“This is vital for safeguarding the future of Royal Mail as a business and for the one-price-goes-anywhere universal service that is valued by our customers.”

The changes would still mean daily mail deliveries in the Bognor area, he said.