Redditch’s postal service and mail delays discussed as MP Chris Bloore visits town delivery office

DISCUSSIONS have been held about ongoing postal service issues affecting Redditch residents, including delayed mail deliveries.

The meeting – between Royal Mail regional operations director Kate Seals and Redditch MP Chris Bloore – followed a period of serious service disruptions which delayed critical correspondences.

Among them were hospital appointments and urgent documents which led to many complaints from Mr Bloore’s constituents.

During the discussion at the local delivery office, Mr Bloore was briefed on recent improvements to service reliability, which Royal Mail attributed to the hard work and dedication of local postal staff.

They are working hard to restore high standards amidst broader national reforms.

These improvements come as Royal Mail implements significant changes to its service model, including the introduction of a five-day delivery schedule for second class letters – these will run from Monday to Friday while a six-day first class mail service will be maintained.

Royal Mail is now required to deliver 90 per cent of first class letters within one working day and 95 per cent of second class mail within three days by 2026.

Mr Bloore said: “Royal Mail services are essential for our communities – from vital healthcare appointments to family correspondence.

“I’m pleased to hear about the progress being made in recent weeks, thanks to the hard work and dedication of local Royal Mail staff.

“However, residents across our constituency rightly expect reliable daily postal deliveries as a basic service and I made that point very clear during our meeting.”

The MP acknowledged the efforts of local Royal Mail employees but emphasised consistent, dependable postal services were essential for the community.

Mr Bloore added: “When people are waiting for hospital appointment letters or other urgent correspondence, delays aren’t just inconvenient – they can have serious consequences for people’s health and wellbeing,”

The MP plans to engage closely with Royal Mail to ensure services continue moving in the right direction.