Postal deliveries in dark 'scaring' old

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.marketrasenmail.co.uk/news/l ... -1-6400405" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Elderly people in Middle Rasen say they are being frightened by postal staff making late deliveries in the dark.

“They are coming around with a torch scaring the old people,” said one resident of the Meadowfield old people’s bungalows.

Deliveries of post have often been after 6pm and even as late as 6.45pm, they said, claiming the situation is getting worse.

“I have a German Shepherd. It went crackers,” one resident said concerning one late delivery.

“I’m 72, my neighbour is 76. Most of the residents are in their 80s. The postman was flashing his torch at windows scaring people. It’s not on. They’re getting later and later,” said another resident.

“A child waiting for a birthday card will have gone to bed before the postman comes,” she added.

The residents say they have complained to the Royal Mail but to no success. But now the Royal Mail has apologised for the late deliveries “in some parts of Market Rasen.”

“This has been due to unusually high levels of sick absence and a number of vacancies within the office. We are putting plans in place, including recruiting additional staff, to resolve the matter as quickly as we can and restore our service to the high standards our customers would normally receive,” said spokeswoman Morag Turnbull.

[chrisj]

Recruiting additional staff when there are known vacancies should have been top priority... Some offices are now deliberately understaffed and run on overtime and borrows from other offices.

RM knows what they are doing - resourcing to workload is one thing but this is more like anticipating a drop in items volumes and reliance on more lapsing... However, posted mail might be dropping and items might be dropping in some parts but not all parts.

Packets are still increasing and as long as Delivery is still a one man one job where temps are not being used, it only takes a few sick absence for the whole system to come apart.

It is poor service for these particular customers as they should have filled the vacancies - with volumes usually high in winter and just before Xmas.

Anything after 4.30pm is really later and delivering with torches - wow

[NWpostie]

In fact any deliveries late at night could well be dangerous and in breach of health and safety.
Early mornings are quite different as there is less people about. Night time the criminal elements will be out and about.

[the mad woman]

I had a moan at man coming to read an elderly relatives gas meter at 7pm it's just no consideration for anyone

[datasaint]

What is the official cut-off time for deliveries? Personally I think anything beyond 8pm is pushing it, but then Yodel deliver upto 9pm and so do the supermarkets.

[dvbuk55]

What is the official cut-off time for deliveries? Personally I think anything beyond 8pm is pushing it, but then Yodel deliver upto 9pm and so do the supermarkets.

I think the cut off for delivery is 3 in urban and 4 in rural anything after that is late and outside the agreed time.

[Red Robbo]

In Gloucestershire they deliver mail at 5.30pm, how scary is that ??

[TrueBlueTerrier]

What is the official cut-off time for deliveries? Personally I think anything beyond 8pm is pushing it, but then Yodel deliver upto 9pm and so do the supermarkets.

I think the cut off for delivery is 3 in urban and 4 in rural anything after that is late and outside the agreed time.

Thats the planned official latest delivery times, as opposed to unplanned later deliveries caused by absences. In fact IIRC the regulator isn't bothered by the time things are delivered, just that they are. The 3pm and 4pm are self imposed by RM and are probably under severe pressure at the moment.

[Mr_Pink]

Quite often mail is still being delivered at 7-8 pm in a couple of offices in our area, they just nab our reserve collection drivers and send them out with it. Some argued about the darkness and safety issues, got told "well we used to deliver in the dark early mornings" didn't even seem to register with the DOM that it tends to get lighter as the morning goes on...

[NWpostie]

Quite often mail is still being delivered at 7-8 pm in a couple of offices in our area, they just nab our reserve collection drivers and send them out with it. Some argued about the darkness and safety issues, got told "well we used to deliver in the dark early mornings" didn't even seem to register with the DOM that it tends to get lighter as the morning goes on...

And less robbing scumbags in the morning as they are still in bed drunk or doped up.

[Mr Rush]

What is the official cut-off time for deliveries? Personally I think anything beyond 8pm is pushing it, but then Yodel deliver upto 9pm and so do the supermarkets.

I'd say no deliveries beyond the DO open hours. There was a story on here of a packet driver having to pouch off at the nearest mail centre past 10pm.

[Lounge Lizard]

What is the official cut-off time for deliveries? Personally I think anything beyond 8pm is pushing it, but then Yodel deliver upto 9pm and so do the supermarkets.

I think the cut off for delivery is 3 in urban and 4 in rural anything after that is late and outside the agreed time.

Thats the planned official latest delivery times, as opposed to unplanned later deliveries caused by absences. In fact IIRC the regulator isn't bothered by the time things are delivered, just that they are. The 3pm and 4pm are self imposed by RM and are probably under severe pressure at the moment.

3pm and 4pm is common sense, a long enough day's work by then and potentially unsafe working after dark.