Over the last few weeks our inboxes have been overflowing with emails from residents complaining that they have not been receiving any mail for a number of weeks.
A number of residents and businesses have resorted to visiting our local sorting office in Sherman’s road to find out if there is any mail for them. One resident picked up mail dated early November. This of course is unacceptable
There have been reports of no recruiting for Christmas, the prioritising of parcels over mail and a huge backlog. Very concerning to think that any of this could potentially be correct.
Please see our email below.
Michael Hogg
Senior Public Affairs Manager
Royal Mail
7th December 2022
Dear Michael
I hope you are well.
A large number of my constituents have contacted me about the non-delivery of their post by Royal Mail over the last 5 to 6 weeks in Chislehurst, in the London Borough of Bromley.
Legal documents, bills and hospital mail are just some of the items not being received, often incurring late payment fees and affecting their mental wellbeing with missed medical treatments and appointments. I find this extremely worrying especially in a time of a cost of living crisis and a very fragile NHS already stretched to the limits as we go into winter.
Residents and businesses who are so concerned about not receiving their mail have started to call into our local sorting office in Sherman Road, BR1 3QH and have successfully picked up mail dating back to early November. I’m sure you would agree this really is unacceptable.
I have heard that the priority for Royal Mail is the delivery of parcels, mail will only be delivered once a week, there are staff shortages with no hiring of extra staff for Christmas and, that there is a huge backlog of mail that won’t get delivered until after Christmas. It’s extremely concerning to think that any of this could potentially be correct.
It’s important to note and my constituents will agree, this it is not about the people that deliver our mail, who do an incredible job and play an invaluable part of our community.
There is clearly something going wrong between when the mail is first posted and when the Royal Mail receives it – in our Bromley sorting office?
I would be grateful if you could have a look into my concerns as soon as possible and let me know what the Royal Mail can do to improve the current situation and give my residents the service they deserve.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Mike
Councillor Mike Jack
Chislehurst Ward
London Borough of Bromley
