Anger at change in post delivery times

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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BUSINESSES and residents have been left fuming after it emerged changes to postal delivery rounds had, for some, signalled the end of morning mail.

Royal Mail claims it has had to make changes to its delivery schedules for the IP28-33 postcode areas because of building development in “certain parts of Bury St Edmunds in recent years”.

Post chiefs claim this has made “several delivery routes much busier than others” and action was needed to balance out the workloads.

But residents and business-owners affected by the changes have described the new delivery systems as “hopeless” and say some letters are arriving so late “they may as well be delivered the next day”.

Chartered surveyor Simon Pott is based in Northgate Street which has been one of the worst affected by the changes. Mail which used to arrive at 9am is now arriving in the afternoon.

Mr Pott, whose business often relies on documents arriving by post, said: “It is a pity. For it to come at another time it means you have got to adjust everything else.”

Rick Wildridge, chairman of the town's Chamber of Commerce who also runs Haldo in Western Way, said: “It is not good enough. You used to get two deliveries - one first class the other second class. Out in Western Way our post is running later which is a nuisance. What is going to happen when we get another 2,000 homes in Bury?”

He said although his business was far from being the worst affected - his deliveries arrived at 9.30am rather than 8.30am - for those businesses which relied on post, such as solicitors and banks, receiving mail early in the morning was crucial to running the company concerned.

Richard Goss, who lives in - and runs a business from - his home in Hatter Street, said: “I have to make it clear we are not blaming the posties - they are working in very trying circumstances. Two years ago we were getting our mail delivered at 7.30am in the morning which is ideal for a lot of businesses.

“It has gradually got worse and this week we have been told not to expect any deliveries before 11.30am. It is hopeless and they may as well deliver it the next day. For any business, to get its post after midday is unacceptable because people need their mail early so they can plan meetings and set up their days.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “As part of our commitment to improving our operational efficiency we have carried out a reorganisation of delivery walks in the Bury St Edmunds area which came into operation on Monday.

“The changes will mean that some customers may receive their mail earlier than previously while others will receive it later but all should still experience the same high level of service they have come to expect from us and we will monitor the new arrangements to ensure this is the case.”

[Lounge Lizard]

But when single day delivery came in few predicted that after a few yeras it would be the first, not the second, delivery that would be abandoned.