Royal Mail responds to allegations post is delayed in Wiltshire

It has been claimed by people living in the town that many rounds are not going out on time and some not at all – and important mail such as NHS letters to patients are not being delivered as soon as they arrive.

One postie, who declined to be identified, said: “It’s the worst I’ve known in 20-plus years as they, in some cases, have doubled the rounds, making it almost impossible to cover in the hours.

“Much more of a concern is that important NHS letters are not being delivered as soon as they arrive at the sorting office, causing delays.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said the situation claimed “is emphatically not the case” and that there are no particular delays in Trowbridge.

 He added: “We continue to aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week, and are unaware of any particular delays locally.

“Anyone who has concerns over the delivery of their mail should contact the Royal Mail customer service team on 03457 740 740 or via the Royal Mail website www.royalmail.com.”

The Royal Mail has been hit by industrial action by more than 115,000 members of the Communication Workers Union in a dispute over pay and unagreed changes to terms and conditions.

The Royal Mail has offered postal workers a pay deal which it says is worth up to nine per cent over 18 months but the CWU says its members want more due to the rise in inflation.

The union also objects to Royal Mail’s proposed changes to working conditions, including the introduction of compulsory Sunday working.

Following a legal challenge by Royal Mail, a two-day strike by postal workers planned for February 16 and 17 was called off.

Up to 95.5 per cent of postal workers voted in favour of continuing strike action, including strikes.

In a joint statement from Royal Mail and the CWU on Monday, March 13 the two sides said talks over the weekend had been extended into this week.

They added: “Progress has been made in some areas and it has been agreed to extend the talks into this week.

“Both parties reiterate the importance of the full adherence to the joint statement and appendix agreed on Thursday, March 2 and the need for workplace tensions to be reduced.”