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RESIDENTS living in Townhead have been receiving Christmas cards this month amid Royal Mail delays.
Alyson McKell, chair of Townhead and Ladywell Community Council, says many residents are now choosing to travel to the G1-G5 Delivery Office on Baird Street to pick up letters so they can be sure to get them all.
She says on one occasion she picked up eight letters, despite the postie being out and delivering at that time.
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Alyson explained: “[The postie] went out and delivered two, I’ve went and picked up eight, I went out for the day, came back and there were four more letters.”
She says another resident picked up 20 letters when they went up to the delivery office despite the fact they had had some delivered.
The 58-year-old said: “Christmas cards are coming in the door to people, that’s how bad it is.
“We’re in April now, we’re at Easter, never mind Christmas.”
Alyson continued: “One person told me he got three bills from Scottish Power telling him ‘you’re in arrears’.
“These are elderly people and they’re panicking.
“It’s shocking.
“It’s across the whole of Townhead, everybody’s talking about it.”
The Glasgow Times has previously reported residents living in the Garnethill and Woodlands areas, which are also covered by the Glasgow G1-5 Delivery Office, have been experiencing delays in receiving their mail.
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Like residents living in those areas, Alyson says people living in Townhead and Ladywell have had hospital appointments, bills, bank statements and bank cards never arrive or be delivered too late, with one woman having to order a new card three times.
She says the issue has been ongoing since around July last year.
Alyson says she believes part of the issue is the fact there is currently no regular postie serving the area, with one she spoke to earlier this month telling her he was based in Dumbarton.
She said “They bring them in for one day and then not for weeks.
“When you do get mail, it’s the wrong address, wrong letterbox, wrong square and then if they can’t get in the main door they just slide it under and leave it in the stairwell.”
Kaukab Stewart MSP (Image: PA)
After being contacted by residents about the issue, MSP Kaukab Stewart shared an online survey with community councils to gather further information for a requested meeting with Royal Mail.
The survey has received more than 50 responses so far with more than 90% saying they have experienced issues and more than 50% saying they missed hospital appointments due to a delay in receiving letters.
Stewart said: “Over the past few months constituents throughout G1-G5 have been in touch to share the issues that they have been experiencing with Royal Mail deliveries.
“After receiving a disappointing response from the Royal Mail, I have requested an urgent meeting to discuss these issues, and asked constituents to share their experience with the Royal Mail through a survey.
“This survey has shown that 91% of those responding have been experiencing issues with the Royal Mail, with 55% of those stating that they have missed hospital appointments, and 43% stating that they have missed bills.
“This is shocking, and I look forward to discussing this with the Royal Mail in person.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We can confirm mail continues to be delivered across the area daily, with any items not delivered one day prioritised the next.
“While the delivery office has experienced recent resourcing issues, due to sick absence and vacancies, these have significantly reduced.
“We’re continuing to recruit more posties to further strengthen our team and improve reliability for local residents.”
Kaukab Stewart’s Royal Mail deliveries survey for those living in the G1-G5 areas can be accessed HERE.
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