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Royal Mail has implemented a significant alteration to its second class postal service, effective from today. Saturday deliveries of second class post will cease, and the service will only operate on alternating weekdays, as opposed to the previous six-day schedule.
The Mirror was informed by Royal Mail that this change will initially be trialled in a handful of areas, following Ofcom’s announcement earlier this year permitting a reduction in delivery days for second class post.
Despite the scaled-back service, Royal Mail maintains its aim for second class letters to reach their destination within three working days. The regulator previously estimated that this cutback in second class deliveries could save Royal Mail between £250million and £425million.
Ofcom also attributed the decision to the declining volume of letters delivered to UK households. Letter numbers have plummeted from 20 billion two decades ago to just 6.6 billion today, reports the Mirror.
Over the past two years, Royal Mail has incurred fines exceeding £16million due to missed delivery targets and subpar performance. However, first class post will continue to be delivered six days a week, from Monday to Saturday.
Natalie Black, Ofcom’s Group Director for Networks and Communications, stated: “These changes are in the best interests of consumers and businesses, as urgent reform of the postal service is necessary to give it the best chance of survival.”
The debate over Royal Mail’s service quality continues as changes to its obligations are considered. The statement made clear that simply altering Royal Mail’s duties won’t ensure improved services, noting: “But changing Royal Mail’s obligations alone won’t guarantee a better service – the company now has to play its part and implement this effectively.”
There is also a commitment to transparency and customer benefits, with the assurance: “We’ll be making sure Royal Mail is clear with its customers about what’s happening, and passes the benefits of these changes on to them.”
Concerns regarding stamp price hikes have not gone unnoticed, leading to a proactive response: “As part of this process, we’ve been listening to concerns about increases in stamp prices. So we’ve launched a review of affordability and plan to publicly consult on this next year.”
Martin Seidenberg, group chief executive of Royal Mail parent firm International Distribution Services, commented on the developments, saying: “It is good news for customers across the UK as it supports the delivery of a reliable, efficient and financially sustainable universal service.”
He further explained the rationale behind the changes, stating: “It follows extensive consultation with thousands of people and businesses to ensure that the postal service better reflects their needs and the realities of how customers send and receive mail today.”
This discussion comes in the wake of recent stamp price increases by Royal Mail, which saw first class stamps rise from £1.65 to £1.70 and second class stamps from 85p to 87p in April. This marked the sixth increase in three years.
Additionally, the cost of other Royal Mail services, including “Signed For” and “Tracked”, also went up in April, with the company attributing the rises to a decline in letter deliveries.
