Fleet residents only getting post 'twice a week'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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ROYAL Mail has come under fire from customers across Fleet angry at delays in delivering their letters and parcels.

Some have reported only having two deliveries a week since October, while others are only just receiving Christmas cards.

Among those who are unhappy is Liz Woodford of Kings Road, who branded postal deliveries in the town as erratic and irregular.

“We do not seem to have a daily delivery and haven’t had for months,” she said.

“The service must be in chaos because to my amazement, the post was delivered last Sunday morning.

“The mail included a letter with a first class stamp which was posted five days earlier.

“Why on earth should we pay extra money for a first class stamp which is supposed to guarantee next day delivery?”

Mrs Woodford said she complained to the local manager but got no reply.

“I know loads of other people who are unhappy about the lack of service,” she added.

A resident of Lea Springs said the problem has been going on for some time.

“I have been receiving my post only twice a week since October 2010,” he added.

“This year we have only had two deliveries of post and after talking to my neighbours it has become apparent that it is not just me but the whole road.

“Several of my neighbours have been to the post office in Fleet to complain to the manager, with no positive response or a resolution to the problem.

“While they were in the post office complaining, several people also joined in the discussion about the lack of postal service.”

The man said the issue has affected him in a number of ways, including hospital appointments and other meetings that he was notified about after the event due to the late delivery of the post.

“I have had numerous packages, especially before Christmas, sent to me that have never arrived and after contacting the sender and replacements sent I still have not received these items,” he added.

“We have got nowhere with Fleet Royal Mail, and recently when a postman was challenged about the recent poor postal service he refused to talk to the resident.”

Another Fleet resident said he was also aware of the disruption to deliveries from Royal Mail’s Fleet delivery office in Waterfront Business Park near the railway station.

“According to a very reliable source the postal office has stated around 22 of the 52 staff are off sick, thus causing several days’ delays to deliveries,” he said.

“From the erratic deliveries I have experienced I suspect there may not be much of a contingency plan to overcome this.”

People living on the Elvetham Heath estate are also unhappy about the situation.

One resident said she is still waiting for a letter sent from Belgium on December 13.

A man said he received a Christmas card with a December 13 postmark on January 12, while another man said his mother received a birthday card on January 8 that was posted on December 16.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “There has been slight disruption to deliveries in Fleet due to exceptionally high levels of staff sickness.

“Our staff responded to the situation and worked hard to restore normal service.

“We apologise to any customer who may have been affected.”

[Judgee]

Should count themselves lucky, when we get privatised their service will probably go go down to once a week!