Locals fume after Evri deliveries to Wiltshire disappear

A recent post in a Burbage Facebook group, which asked locals if they were missing Evri deliveries, received 74 comments. In total almost 50 people have not received around 80 packages.

The post creator, Gary Rawlinson, is one of many who have been left without their parcels.

He ordered a package on behalf of his son, several weeks before Christmas, which was intended as a birthday present for his other son.

But on New Year’s Day, when he claims his family were at home, he received a tracking update that his driver was unable to deliver the package and they would try again the next working day.

More than two weeks later he has had no delivery and no further updates.

He said: “It’s quite apparent that there is something strange happening in Burbage. This is clearly a local issue and there are many people affected.

“My son was very frustrated because this was a birthday present for his brother. He’s had to say ‘sorry Evri have got it, but god knows when it’s going to come’”.

Tanya Short is another villager who has had problems with the delivery company.

She was forced to refund three Next items which did not arrive, over ten days after they were reported as out for delivery. Another parcel was then recorded as delivered, despite her doorbell camera confirming it had not been.

Mrs Short was able to get a refund because of this footage, but says others have not been so fortunate.

She said: “I think everyone was understanding up to a point because the postal strikes put pressure on delivery companies.

“But everyone became frustrated over Christmas, and it has grown into anger. We haven’t had consistent deliveries since early December and lot of people are getting cross because the package is recorded as delivered so they are left out of pocket… that’s infuriating”.

There is no confirmation of where the missing packages are, but Evri insist they will be delivered soon.

A spokesperson said: “We are sorry that some customers in the area are experiencing short delays.

“Like everyone in the sector we have experienced higher-than-normal volumes driven in part by Royal Mail strikes and staffing shortages in some local areas. 

“We have a robust solution in place in Burbage and any delayed parcels will be delivered in the next few days. We apologise to anyone that has been affected.”