"main2">Leader David Whalley told the WMN: "We have a contract
with Royal Mail to deliver the paper to every household and
business in Cornwall. There were a number of companies who
tendered for the contract and Royal Mail were selected because
they came up with the lowest price and assurances they could
deliver.
"We want everyone to receive a copy - I will be taking the
matter up with Royal Mail as a matter of urgency."
The £400,000-a-year cost of running the free, monthly
publication has been heavily criticised since it was announced
last year that the publication was to be launched. This month
sees the first edition being distributed to more than 240,000
homes and businesses.
To individually name and address each copy, extra thousands of
pounds would be added to the council's bill.
Earlier this week the WMN revealed that adverts had been left
out of the issue because council bosses had not met Royal Mail
deadlines. Before Royal Mail can deliver free publications, the
company must receive certain information including the number
of pages and the weight of the publication.
The council insists the newspaper is necessary to inform people
about council business including schools, looking after
children and adults in care, highway maintenance and waste
disposal. It also argues that by not placing advertisements in
the local media, it will prove cheaper.
A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "If some people prefer not to
receive unaddressed mail through our Royal Mail Door To Door
service they can choose to opt out.
"However, it should be noted though that while you can opt out
of receiving all such items it is not possible for Royal Mail
to separate material that a customer doesn't want from material
they do want. We would advise people to consider very carefully
before taking this option.
"People could miss out on important information from councils
or government departs if they chose to opt out."
One angry resident from St Day, near Redruth, who wished to
remain anonymous, told the WMN he had opted out of the
door-to-door service. He said: "As a result "Your Cornwall" has
not been delivered to me as the Post Office consider it to be
junk mail.
"How am I going to be informed of road closures, planning,
statutory notices, salaries and expenses?
"The council has a statutory right to keep me informed of
council notices."
Independent councillor Mark Kaczmarek said: "I can understand
the council using the unaddressed system to save money. But the
point is if they're going to run this newspaper and make sure
everyone is going to get a copy then they have to do it
properly."
23 Comments
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by David, St Austell
Saturday, July 12 2008, 4:03PM
“It's a question of priorities and somehow the powers that be care not for the public once they are on the gravy train First priorities should be health, education and the emergency services. If these are all properly funded then they can waste money on junk mail.”
by Sam, Newquay
Wednesday, July 09 2008, 12:32PM
“Have you noticed that every single photograph in the rag has someone smiling or laughing ? Do they know something we don't ? It's all quite spooky.”
by Stacey., Helston
Tuesday, July 08 2008, 9:46AM
“I am so glad we have such involved and upfront people in Cornwall. No doubt all those who have criticised the county council for this, and other efforts on their behalf, will be rushing to get their names put forward for election at the first opportunity, seeing as they know so much better about running a county than anyone currently employed there. Or are we faced by a mass of complaining windbags, who, unlike my husband, have not got the guts to put themselves forward to work and support our county? It's easy to knock and complain, maybe if these people actually pulled their thumbs out and voted for say Mebyon Kernow we'd soon see how good "Cornish" self government would work!”
by liz, Camborne
Tuesday, July 08 2008, 9:05AM
“When is this going to end. they do not take any notice of the electorate of Cornwall and seem to be a law onto themselves.Vote them out.”
by dennis p, falmouth
Monday, July 07 2008, 4:50PM
“I do not believe for one moment that Royal Mail classify this consignement as Junk mail, more likely it is a contract for Household Delivery delivery dedicated to a post code(s) address's should the customer not wish to receive Junk mail as opposed to household delivery items then it must be made abundantly clear to the delivery officers as to what or what not to put through the letter box, should complaints come in the system would collapse accept all the items and put them out for recycling if you really do not want them”