MP's stamp of approval as he tries his hand at another job

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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/mps-stamp-app ... kv0RPP6W-7

A Bolton MP tried his hand at delivering letters as he joined a postie on his round to understand the challenges faced by postal workers.

Bolton West MP's Phil Brickell visited the Bolton West Delivery Office to understand the challenges faced by postal workers.

He met with posties and learned about Royal Mail's adaptation to the increase in parcel volumes and the decline in letters.

Mr Brickell learned about what it takes to deliver letters and parcels in Bolton West (Image: Supplied)

The rise in online shopping has led to a higher demand for larger parcels, while letter volumes have dropped from 20 billion a year at their peak to just 6.7 billion in 2024.

Mr Brickell spoke with Lee Collier, lead customer operations manager, about Royal Mail's strategy to make sending and receiving parcels 'more convenient'.

This includes services like Parcel Collect, where posties pick up parcels from customers' doorsteps for delivery, and offering more ways to drop off parcels at 'convenient' times and locations, such as Collect+ and parcel lockers.

Mr Brickell joined postie, Ben, on his round, helping to deliver post locally (Image: Supplied)

They also discussed how the Universal Service, the legal requirement to deliver letters six days a week to every address, could be adapted to ensure that Royal Mail’s 'one-price-goes-anywhere' service can be sustainable in the long term for residents and businesses.

Mr Brickell then joined local postie Ben on a delivery round to understand more about a typical day for a postie and to help deliver post in the local area.

Mr Collier said: "It was great to have Phil visit our delivery office to show him how Royal Mail is transforming and how our posties are adapting to the changes in our volumes of letters and parcels.

"We were also grateful to have another pair of hands to help deliver the post."

Phil spoke to Lead Customer Operations Manager Lee Collier about Royal Mail’s strategy (Image: Supplied)

Mr Brickell said: "Thank you to Royal Mail for hosting me at the Horwich sorting office.

"It was interesting to see just how the role of our local postmen and women is changing.

"A special thanks to Ben for taking the time to take me on his round with him and for explaining how the role has changed."