Further to our message on 13 January 2022, concerning the recent infrequent postal deliveries in the Cranham and Upminster areas, we have received a copy of a letter sent to Julia Lopez MP from Royal Mail.

Dear Ms Lopez

Thank you for your communication dated 7 December regarding mail deliveries in your Hornchurch & Upminster constituency. Please accept my sincere apologies for any concern caused.

Royal Mail is adapting to the rapidly changing nature of the modern postbag, which now comprises of more parcels and fewer letters. Since the start of the pandemic there has been a rapid acceleration in the decline of letters and the increase in parcels. We need to periodically review delivery rounds including those which serve your Hornchurch & Upminster constituency. This is to ensure that postmen and women each have a fair distribution of workload.

After a review of delivery rounds in Upminster, changes were implemented the week commencing 11 October. This meant that every delivery round that originates from Upminster Delivery Office has changed. Every postman and woman is now delivering to a revised round. Unfortunately, these changes have coincided with a higher than normal rate of sick absence which caused additional pressure on the operation. I wholeheartedly apologise but want to assure you that steps are being taken to get back on track.

As postmen and women’s knowledge of their new delivery rounds have bedded in, we have put in place further measures to improve the service your constituents rightly expect. Additional vehicles are being sourced, sickness levels are improving, and we have a recruitment campaign in place for new postmen and women to be based at Hornchurch & Upminster Delivery Office.

We are rotating deliveries to in Upminster so that our customers receive their mail as frequently as possible – I am sorry for any inconvenience caused. I would like to reassure you that the team are working hard to ensure that mail deliveries can take place six days a week to addresses in your Hornchurch & Upminster Constituency.

I hope this reply is helpful. As always if I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Senior Public Affairs Manager

We will continue to monitor the situation and keep residents updated.

By Editor on 17th January 2022   /   News   /   Leave a comment