Related Articles
Sir Ashley Fox, the Conservative MP for Bridgwater, called for “urgent action” to address the postal service’s performance, saying that rural communities are being let down.
He recently led a debate in Westminster Hall on the Royal Mail Universal Service Obligation, using examples from his constituency to illustrate the issue.
Sir Ashley said: “In my constituency, only one in three households told me, through my survey, that they receive a postal delivery every day.
“Fifteen per cent said that they receive one once a week or less.
“In the village of Othery, some households went without deliveries for more than a fortnight.
“In Cossington, one resident told me that their magazine had not been delivered for seven weeks in a row.”
He said the situation is unacceptable and residents deserve a reliable service, adding: “The postal service is a vital part of our communities.
“Its future, and the changes to the universal service obligation, particularly affect my constituents.”
Sir Ashley also warned that lowering delivery standards or reducing service days would hit rural areas hardest.
He said: “This is not just a few percentage points on a spreadsheet.
“It is millions of people waiting longer for vital letters … and rural communities, such as those in Somerset, being pushed further to the margins.”
The MP will meet with the Royal Mail’s director of external affairs and policy to discuss his concerns.
