No post haste as delay hits festive deliveries

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HERNE Bay's appalling postal service has hit a new low with reports of a letter taking 16 days to travel just 300 yards.

City councillor Roger Matthews, ward member for Greenhill and Eddington, stormed: "It is disgusting. I received 20 letters on Thursday, my first mail for 10 days. One of them was from my doctor dated December 16, yet his surgery is just 300 yards from my house in Beltinge Road.

"Royal Mail will be putting the price of stamps up but they take 16 days to deliver something that was sent from virtually my doorstep."

The Times has been inundated with complaints about the poor postal service.

Graham Major of Mickleburgh Hill joined a queue of more than 20 to collect mail from the Eddington Lane depot.

He said: "People were very agitated and talking about the terrible service. I collected 27 letters and Christmas cards. One of them had been posted first class from a local address on December 12."

Christine Waghorn, of Richmond Street, was upset that her daughter Sarah's Christmas card, posted from Eastbourne three weeks ago, failed to arrive in time.

"Sarah had paid an extra £1.72 to make sure it got here in time. She rang me every day in the run-up to Christmas to see if it had arrived.

"I had to come all the way down here to collect it but a postman could have left it with a neighbour even if he couldn't make me hear.

"The postal service in Herne Bay has been absolutely pathetic."

Dilys Berry, 74, from Wrentham Avenue, Greenhill, only collected a Christmas parcel for her grandchildren on Thursday.

She said: " The parcel was sent by my sister-in-law to pass on to my grandchildren. She posted it on December 9 from Bury, Lancashire, and although it finally arrived on December 24, I wasn't able to get down here to pick it up. I assumed the delay had been caused by snow."

Businessman Chris Rodwell, who runs a plumbing and heating company, said he had not received mail for the past three weeks.

He said: "I have just picked up 12 items and have been told the delay is due to a restructuring programme. It's not good enough.

Freelance illustrator Roger Harris of Broomfield Road was stunned to collect his mum's Christmas card sent from Bridge from the collection office on Wednesday. Mr Harris said: "Mum's card was posted on December 11 but it has taken until December 30 for it to travel just 10 miles."

Mr Harris was also dismayed his regular postman had been taken off the round and that posties are no longer allowed bikes but use trolleys.