Royal Mail delays hit 30 postcodes as first-class stamp worth hits eye-watering £1.80
Royal Mail has warned that 30 postcode areas across the UK are facing delivery delays following Easter weekend, with the delivery firm citing issues such as sick absence
Royal Mail has warned of delays to deliveries in several areas(Image: inyourArea)
Royal Mail has issued a warning that mail deliveries across various UK postcodes will be delayed. The announcement comes in the wake of the Easter weekend, during which numerous deliveries were not carried out.
As of Tuesday, delays are impacting 30 postcode areas. Royal Mail said: “We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week.
“In a small number of local offices, this may temporarily not be possible due to local issues such as high levels of sick absence, resourcing, or other local factors. In those cases, we will rotate deliveries to minimise the delay to individual customers.
“We also provide targeted support to those offices to address their challenges and restore our service to the high standard our customers would normally receive. We’re sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.”
The hold-ups follow a day without mail deliveries or collections on Monday, owing to the Easter Monday bank holiday.
The previous week saw no deliveries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland due to Good Friday, although deliveries did proceed in Scotland.
The current delivery disruption is affecting regions including Birmingham, Lichfield, Pontyclun, Erskine and Grimsby.
Royal Mail has come under fire for slow deliveries. Owner Daniel Kretinsky told MPs: “Of course I am deeply sorry for any letters that arrive late.”
However, he rejected suggestions that Royal Mail’s performance for postal deliveries arriving behind schedule was worsening.
Addressing the Commons Business select committee, Mr Kretinsky said: “It is not perfect, but it is not catastrophic.”
Meanwhile, starting today, consumers have been struck by a stamp price hike. First class stamps have risen to £1.80 and second class to 91p. The cost of a first class stamp in 2020 stood at 76p.
Royal Mail attributed the increases to escalating delivery expenses as postal volumes dropped and the quantity of addresses grew.
Managing director of letters, Richard Travers, said: “We always consider price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail.
“On average, UK adults now spend just £6.50 each year on stamps and there are 70% fewer letters sent than 20 years ago.
“In the meantime, the number of addresses we deliver to has increased by four million to 32 million addresses across the UK.”
Royal Mail delays today
- Banbury DO (OX15 – OX17)
- Birmingham East DO (B8 – B10)
- Deeside DO (CH5)
- Erskine DO (PA7, PA8)
- Grimsby DO (DN31 – DN37)
- Hockley DO (SS5)
- Lichfield DO (WS7, WS13, WS14)
- New Ferry DO (CH32, CH62, CH63)
- Petersfield DO (GU31 – GU33)
- Pontyclun DO (CF72)
- Prenton DO (CH43)
- Selsey SUDO (PO20)
- Yate DO (BS37)
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