Rochdale - Royal Mail expected to start delivering better service to towns

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.rochdaletimes.co.uk/royal-m ... -to-towns/

Postal services in Middleton and Heywood should be first class now that the delivery office is fully staffed again.

After more than a year of disrupted service which saw important medical and financial letters arrive weeks or months late, the service has started to improve as it approaches its busiest time of year.

Heywood and Middleton North MP Elsie Blundell has written several letters and held meetings with Royal Mail bosses following ongoing complaints from residents who had missed hospital appointments or were facing financial hardship because of the delayed deliveries.

Requesting an update in the House of Commons last week, she asked what discussions the government has had with Royal Mail on improving service levels in the north-west.

Mrs Blundell said in the Commons: “I commend the efforts of posties across the country, especially at this time of year, but residents in Middleton in my constituency have been without a reliable postal service for well over a year.

“This has meant that crucial medical documentation and urgent financial correspondence have been have been reaching the people of Middleton too late, if at all.

“What steps is the government therefore taking to bring about serious improvements in Royal Mail service provision in north Greater Manchester, given that Royal Mail alone is unable to deliver the change that people in Middleton deserve.”

Blair McDougall MP, the UK Parliament Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business and Trade, said he has discussed Royal Mail’s performance with its chief executive and its parent company, and “they recognise the need to do more to meet service delivery targets”.

He added: “In addition, Ofcom fined Royal Mail £21 million for failing to meet its service targets, and told it to urgently publish and deliver a credible plan that delivers major and continual improvement.

“On this, as on all things, my honourable Friend is a strong voice for the problems faced by her local people. I know she raised those concerns with Royal Mail about local services and resourcing challenges particularly in Middleton and I understand Royal Mail have now recruited 17 more staff in the last few weeks and the Middleton delivery office is now fully staffed.

“These are issues I am discussing with Royal Mail and the need to improve and on behalf of all of the house I would like to wish all of our heroic posties a merry Christmas at this most difficult time of year for them.”

Reacting to the news on Mrs Blundell’s Facebook page, Victoria Loop said: “Well there has been an improvement, but it should not have had to take a discussion in parliament to fix it. Please can you talk about housing next?”

Terry Martin said: “I worked for Royal Mail for 34 years. The lady’s spot on. It’s that time of the year when it’s gets really busy, not just with letters, but parcels as well. It took a month to receive a letter from my doctor recently and I only live a mile from the surgery. Watch this space and let’s hope things get back to some sort of normality.”

Jess Garside, from Heywood, said: “I didn’t realise this was a thing for anyone else. I have letters dated a month previously only getting to me that day. Havoc keeping on top of things. I rely on letters for to remind me. Late notice medical appts and even missed appts because of it. It has been like this for such a long time, we go weeks without post often.

Claire Lyon said: “It’s all about the parcels these days. My son had 250 parcels plus all his letters on Black Friday.”

Colette England said: “We live in Hopwood. We knew the post was ‘slow’, but didn’t realise it had got so bad until November. We have had birthday cards not arrive, and first-class post being sent to us from family down south taking well over a week to arrive. I’ve told them it’s not worth paying for the first class stamp as it makes no difference. It’s a shame because the posties on the ground are lovely — not sure where the bottleneck is happening!