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ROYAL SNAIL: Residents across The Chalfonts frustrated with slow postal service

 Published on: 22nd January 2022   |   By: Lizzie Ellis   |   Category: Uncategorized

Residents across the Chalfonts have spoken out about continuous slow postal delivery service over many months, which they say has caused missed appointments, late celebration cards, and financial suffering due to delayed repayment of bills and fines.

Sarah Green MP for Chesham and Amersham and Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, Martin Tett have both made contact with Royal Mail regarding the ‘unacceptable’ postal service in the area, calling for an urgent improvement to the service.

Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, Martin Tett said: “I have been contacted by a large number of local residents concerned at the appalling delivery service currently being provided by Royal Mail in the Little Chalfont and Amersham area. I completely agree that this has gone on far too long and residents are not just experiencing inconvenience but financial and emotional loss.”

One resident told ChalfontNews of the consequences of the delays: “We have not had a proper postal system from the beginning of December.  I am under hospital care following a car accident, if I don’t turn up I am taken off the list and the NHS is charged up to £170 for a missed appointment. It is not just me this is happening too, there are many others too.”

Another resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, added: “I’ve been to complain at the sorting office and they said it was because of delivering of COVID tests, however, none are being delivered now as there isn’t many, I’ve had no mail for over six weeks.

In the letter to the Royal Mail Chairman, Keith Williams, Councillor Martin Tett questioned the reasons behind the poor service and what is going to be done to rectify it. 

Cllr Martin Tett said: “I am in receipt of numerous complaints from local residents about the situation which has developed over the past three months. During this time the once-daily delivery service has effectively ceased. Residents are fortunate if they receive one or at most two deliveries a week. Not only is delivery infrequent and on unpredictable days but the post itself is delayed for very protracted periods.”

Sarah Green MP met with Royal Mail representatives on Thursday, January 6 to discuss the ongoing delivery problems locally. 

Sarah Green MP said: “Royal Mail’s Home Counties North Service Delivery Manager was able to provide me with an update on the steps being taken to rectify the situation. I was assured that recruitment efforts are already underway, with new staff members taking up their posts both this week and next. 

“The Royal Mail is also looking to employ additional staff from agencies. I hope that the positive impact of this strengthened workforce will be seen by constituents in the coming weeks. As a short-term measure, I have requested that the hours during which mail can be collected from the Amersham Delivery Office be extended. This is currently being explored and I will update you as soon as I hear more.”

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “The vast majority of mail is delivered safely and on time. We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week. In Chalfont, we have been experiencing some delays to service due to resourcing issues and sickness absence. 

“We would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience experienced. We have been working hard to get our levels of service back to normal as soon as possible and the situation is improving. 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.”

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