Southwark and Lambeth postcodes left without mail for weeks are missing from Royal Mail’s own list of ‘failing areas’

Royal Mail has published a list of areas where its service is failing – but has not included beleaguered Southwark and Lambeth postcodes.

As the News reported in December, the Coronavirus pandemic, an increase in deliveries and staff self-isolating and off sick have all impacted on the post across Southwark, compounding pre-existing issues in areas like Dulwich and Crystal Palace.

Dulwich and West Norwood MP Helen Hayes says constituents of hers have missed vital doctors’ appointments, been left unable to order food after replacement bank cards went missing, and have missed out on Christmas post after having weeks with no deliveries. Some residents in SE27 have not received any post since mid-December.

“I still receive complaints about failing Royal Mail services in SE22, SE19 and other areas each week,” Helen Hayes said. “Royal Mail have never acknowledged the seriousness of the problem. Many people are now anxious Covid vaccination appointments will be missed due to this failure.”

Royal Mail published a list of areas across the country no longer receiving regular post this month. The list included Lewisham (SE13) and Wandsworth (SW18) but Southwark and Lambeth were left off the list.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Despite our best efforts and significant investment in extra resource, some customers may experience slightly longer delivery timescales than our usual service standards.

“This is due to the exceptionally high volumes we are seeing, exacerbated by the coronavirus-related measures we have put in place in local mail centres and delivery offices to keep our people and customers safe.

“In such cases, we always work hard to get back to providing our usual level of service as quickly as we can.”