Ministers respond to Jersey Royal Mail plane consultation

Royal Mail is required to provide next-day delivery to UK addresses, but this does not include the Channel islands.

It would mean a two-day service instead of next-day priority mail between the UK and Jersey.

The petition has claimed that the “discontinuation of this service would threaten Jersey’s economic vigour and connectivity and would be felt by all – from individuals to businesses”.

In a statement responding to it, ministers said: “The withdrawal of Royal Mail’s mail plane would have almost no impact on inbound deliveries to the island because, with the exception of special delivery items, these are already delivered by sea.”

They said they “fully appreciate the difficult position many local online retailers and fulfilment companies will face if Royal Mail withdraws its daily mail plane service”.

The statement added that they had written to Royal Mail “to convey the concerns of local businesses” and had been reassured that Jersey Post was “working with the sector and other affected stakeholders to find alternative solutions”.