Some constituents have written to me over recent months to tell me they are concerned with the unpredictability of mail deliveries to their addresses. Having made representations to Royal Mail since the summer, I asked to visit the Banbury Delivery Office last week given that the situation doesn’t seem to be improving in Ruscote, Easington, Neithrop, Drayton and Bloxham.
It was useful to meet the leadership team to discuss my constituents’ concerns. The Customer Operations Lead assured me that Royal Mail are taking the situation very seriously. I was pleased to hear that deliveries are being made to the vast majority of addresses six days a week, when there is mail to deliver. I explained that residents are most worried that they are missing hospital appointments because of delays. I was reassured to hear that the team have a system in place for flicking through the mail as soon as it arrives to pull out NHS letters to ensure they are delivered as a priority.
I was told that recent challenges have arisen from the loss of some experienced staff which has led to knowledge gaps in those areas most affected. With unemployment so low locally, the Customer Operations Lead has found recruiting replacements challenging. Although seven new postmen and women have been onboarded in the past few months, the team are looking to fill more positions. If you know someone who might be looking for a new opportunity, please do direct them to: https://jobs.royalmailgroup.com/.
Overall, it was clear from my visit that delivering a reliable service remains the team’s top priority. They remain focused on maximising the service and ensuring that deliveries are consistently made to all addresses six days a week. I have asked the team to keep me updated on progress and will be following the situation closely. Constituents can continue to get in touch with me at [email protected] should they have any concerns.
