Stowmarket Royal Mail delays caused by higher sick absence

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/24801392.st ... k-absence/

Delays in postal services around a town have been put down to a "higher than usual level of sick absence" at the local sorting office.

Residents in Stowmarket have taken to social media to complain about missing post since the start of December.

Some have missed important legal documents, while others have seen appointments go unattended.

One person, who did not wish to be named, told this newspaper they had a first class delivery sent to them on December 5, only for it to arrive one week later.

"We were expecting to exchange contracts and in the end we had to get it done by email," they said.

"People have missed hospital appointments.

"We are paying for a service and we are not getting the items."

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said it intends "to restore the service to our usual high standards soon."

“Every single letter and parcel is important to us, and we aim to deliver all items on time," added the Royal Mail spokesperson.

"A higher than usual level of sick absence at the local delivery office has unfortunately had an impact on deliveries at a time where posties are dealing with the festive demand where volumes typically double.

"We are doing everything we can to improve the service and ensure Christmas deliveries are made on time."

The issue has also affected surrounding villages, such as Combs and Great Finborough.

Royal Mail said on its website there were also delays at the Woodbridge Delivery Office, affecting the IP12 and IP13 postcodes.

It is not the only region of Suffolk which has seen delays to post this year.

Woodbridge resident Ian Wright said in October that letters had arrived at his home as much as 17 days after they were posted.

He had spoken to neighbours who told him they had received "intermittent post'.