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Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner has met with senior representatives from Royal Mail after residents across her constituency raised concerns about delays in receiving post.
Ms Rayner said she had been contacted by a number of constituents who reported missing medical appointments because letters arrived after the scheduled date. Others told her they had faced enforcement action after failing to receive letters informing them of fines.
Neighbouring MP Johnathan Reynolds also attended the virtual meeting, stating that residents in his constituency had experienced similar issues.
Following discussions, Royal Mail representatives acknowledged the concerns raised and apologised for the impact the delays had on residents.
They explained that while January typically sees a lull in mail volumes following the Christmas rush, this year had seen a higher than expected volume of post. The increased use of economy services for mass mailouts was also highlighted as a contributing factor to delays.
David Gold, Royal Mail’s Director of External Affairs and Policy, told the MPs that data indicates the situation improved during February. He added that Royal Mail is able to collect performance statistics at street level, allowing specific problem areas to be identified and addressed swiftly.
Many residents who contacted Ms Rayner said they believed postal workers were being instructed to prioritise parcels over letters. However, this claim was denied during the meeting. Mr Gold said that while health and safety regulations require parcels to be moved quickly to avoid backlogs at sorting offices, they are not prioritised over letters for delivery.
Both Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge and Hyde constituencies are served by the Hyde sorting office following the closure of the Ashton office in December 2023, and Ms Rayner noted that residents across both areas appear to be experiencing similar problems,
Ms Rayner said: “I would like to thank the representatives from Royal Mail who listened to the concerns of myself and Jonathan Reynolds. Our constituencies are both served by Hyde sorting office following the closure of the Ashton office in December 2023 and it seems residents across both constituencies are experiencing very similar problems and delays with letters arriving.
“It’s good to know that Royal Mail collect data in such detail, and they have agreed to share that with us so we can continue to monitor the situation.
“They are also recruiting additional staff, and I hope this will go a large way to resolving the issues that are raised with me on a daily basis.
“The Universal Service Obligation requires Royal Mail to provide a basic postal service to everyone in the UK, no matter where they live, at an affordable and uniform price that is set out in the Postal Services Act 2011 and regulated by Ofcom.
“It is unreasonable for residents to expect letters to be delivered to their homes in a timely fashion.
“I will continue to hold Royal Mail to account on this issue and I would be grateful if my constituents can keep sharing information with me if they feel they are not receiving letters on time. Details can be emailed to angela.rayner.mp@parliament.uk.”
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