Royal Mail Centre Watford
January 2013
A visit with sweet_pea
I have visited this site on two occasions, once with a childhood friend who is not registered
on any forums but still explores for fun and more recently with sweet_pea.
The site was once a bustling mail centre for Royal Mail built in the 1970's.
The land is now earmarked for a Morrisons supermarket, a primary school and homes,
plans which are backed by local residents.
The closure in 2011 was part of a group of closures across Hertfordshire which
meant around 300 people across the borough had to say goodbye to their jobs.
Unfortunately since UE-OMJ posted his report back in September, part of the site
has been cleared and appears to be temporarily in use. Whilst on the roof I spotted
several vans leave the site and a couple of guys walk back towards the main building.
I also stumbled in to another area which I thought would be abandoned but it contained
brand new wiring and machinery.
sweet_pea "Where do I sign in?"
ooo The Dungeon!
So what sensitive information and records could we find..?
Vehicle accident statistics per region from 1982
6 fatal injuries to the public and 1 to a Post Office employee
A letter from 1988 outlining planned building maintenance
An accident report from 1988
The Post Office Gazette from 1990
First rooftop visit without tripod
It's me! I think sweet_pea purposely took one out of focus to protect you guys from my ugly mug!
And to give you guys and gals an idea of the sheer size of this site...
January 2013
A visit with sweet_pea
I have visited this site on two occasions, once with a childhood friend who is not registered
on any forums but still explores for fun and more recently with sweet_pea.
The site was once a bustling mail centre for Royal Mail built in the 1970's.
The land is now earmarked for a Morrisons supermarket, a primary school and homes,
plans which are backed by local residents.
The closure in 2011 was part of a group of closures across Hertfordshire which
meant around 300 people across the borough had to say goodbye to their jobs.
Unfortunately since UE-OMJ posted his report back in September, part of the site
has been cleared and appears to be temporarily in use. Whilst on the roof I spotted
several vans leave the site and a couple of guys walk back towards the main building.
I also stumbled in to another area which I thought would be abandoned but it contained
brand new wiring and machinery.
sweet_pea "Where do I sign in?"
ooo The Dungeon!
So what sensitive information and records could we find..?
Vehicle accident statistics per region from 1982
6 fatal injuries to the public and 1 to a Post Office employee
A letter from 1988 outlining planned building maintenance
An accident report from 1988
The Post Office Gazette from 1990
First rooftop visit without tripod
It's me! I think sweet_pea purposely took one out of focus to protect you guys from my ugly mug!
And to give you guys and gals an idea of the sheer size of this site...
This site in the news:
11th August 2000 - Ammonia used to hijack Royal Mail van
9th December 2002 - Staff evacuated after bomb scare
18th November 2005 - Eight crews attend rooftop blaze
20th September 2007- Postal woes to continue because of troubled sorting office in Watford
28th September 2007 - Management call police to remove staff from site
14th May 2008 - Watford Postie raises £500,000 to open hospital in Pakistan
12th September 2008 - More mail misery with backlog of 150,000 letters and parcels
14th November 2008 - Staff vote for investigation of management over bullying claims
5th May 2010 - Pair drive Royal Mail lorry to Moldova to deliver clothes, toys and vital supplies
12th May 2010 - BNP makes allegations of Watford office purposely losing election leaflets
12th August 2010 - Royal Mail centres under threat
4th October 2010 - Staff told about site's closure
23rd June 2011 - Confirmation of closure within months
15th September 2011 - MP may demand payouts following postal chaos
28th September 2011 - MP met with managers to discuss severe postal backlogs
23rd November 2012 - Image of planned Morrisons store
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