MP's delight as Royal Mail pledges changes in bid to help improve postal deliveries in Fylde
“I'll be keeping a close eye on things to make sure residents see that improvement in practice”
Fylde MP Andrew Snowden has hailed the prospect of changes being made by Royal Mail which it is hoped will improve the reliability of post deliveries.
It follows a recent visit to the local delivery office by the MP, who says he has had a huge number of emails from residents, particularly in Kirkham, Wesham, Freckleton and Warton, bemoaning the unreliability of deliveries.
“No post for days, letters arriving weeks late and deliveries turning up in batches were among the complaints, so I went to the Royal Mail delivery office to hear directly what has gone wrong and what is being done to fix it,” said Mr Snowden
“The good news is there are changes coming in August which should improve things.
“From what Royal Mail told me they're getting more staff back into the delivery office, bringing in extra sorting units to help organise the mail more efficiently, and changing the way deliveries are carried out.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said of the changes in a letter to Mr Snowden: “We aim to deliver all items to their specification.
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“In busy periods or when faced with resourcing challenges, as is currently the case, our delivery offices will follow contingency guidance which prioritises products – both letters and parcels – based on urgency.
“This guidance means that our posties may be asked to deliver the most urgent next-day mail – this would mean Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am® and 1pm®, First Class letters and parcels, Tracked 24® letters and parcels and NHS correspondence.
“This is a contingency, not standard practice.”
Mr Snowden said: “They say these changes should help improve the reliability of the service, and I'll be keeping a close eye on things to make sure residents see that improvement in practice.
People don't expect miracles. They just expect their post to arrive.