Wrexham Council Leader taking Royal Mail issues to the top

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https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/26024 ... ssues-top/

Royal Mail bosses will face claims they are failing to ensure postal deliveries get to residents in time by the leader of Wrexham Council.

Cllr Mark Pritchard requested and secured the backing of the Executive Board to challenge Royal Mail about growing concerns that Wrexham’s postal service is failing to meet its statutory service levels – and he has pledged to go to the very top of the organisation to get answers.

The issue was brought to light last month when Cllr Marc Jones and North Wales MS Carolyn Thomas – herself a former postal worker – spoke out about the problems reported by some constituents.

These included potential missed hospital appointments.

As the Executive Board discussed Cllr Pritchard’s request on Tuesday, Cllr Jones told members he had heard anecdotally that mail was even hidden from Wrexham MP Andrew Ranger when he visited the Wrexham sorting office.

“I have had representations about missed hospital appointments, huge delays in post,” he said. “Also I’ve spoken to postal workers who say that parcels are being prioritised over letters because that’s where the money is.

“I’ve also been told that when the local MP visited Wrexham sorting office, because I think this is a specific problem in Wrexham, that the mail was concealed by management from the MP. Now it’s a very serious allegation and I’m taking the word of people who were there, but we really do need to get to the bottom of this.

“I have raised it directly with Royal Mail management in Wales. But I’ve yet to see improvements, I’ll be honest with you. So I fully support this initiative.”

Asked who he planned to make representations to on the matter, Cllr Pritchard was clear.

“This is to the Royal Mail, and I will go to the top,” he said.

“If you’re offered an appointment from the hospital, it could be the Christie, it could be Walton, anywhere across the country, you want to know when that appointment is and when the mail is going to be delivered to your property.

“Also, with regards to postal votes, I won’t go into it because we’re in the pre-election period, but I don’t have to explain to you how important that is.

“It’s so important that the mail is delivered on time. I really hope it’s not the case that the mail is not being delivered and has been kept and held back."

Cllr Brian Cameron backed the Leader’s proposal.

“I think it’s dreadful the services we’re getting,” he said. “If you post a letter today, you don’t know whether they’re getting it today, in seven days time, the next day or whatever.”

Cllr Hugh Jones stressed that the authority was not criticising hard-working local postal workers as it sought answers arounds why the service in Wrexham seems to be struggling.

“I would like to pay tribute to the frontline people who deliver the mail,” he said, “They’re a very important part of our community. The local post office delivery person is key to the community in terms of communicating and keeping an eye out for vulnerable people.

“I think it’s also important to reflect the importance of – and our appreciation for – those who deliver the mail on a regular basis.”

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https://wrexham.com/news/council-to-wri ... 89601.html

Wrexham Council’s Executive Board has agreed to write formally to Royal Mail after elected members raised concerns about postal delays in the area, including missed hospital appointments and reports of mail going undelivered for days at a time.

Obviously Wrexham Council has no operational role in the Royal Mail, nor funds it, however the Executive Board appears to be exercising the ability to represent unhappiness in the community via a formal higher level communication.

Council Leader Mark Pritchard put the proposal to the Executive Board yesterday, asking members to authorise him to contact Royal Mail “at the top” over what he described as failures in delivery commitments across Wrexham.

Giving examples of impacts from bad postal service he said, “If you have an appointment from the hospital, could be anywhere, could be Christie’s, could be Walton, anywhere across the country, you want to know when that appointment is and that the mail going to be delivered to your property,”

He also raised concerns about the reliability of postal votes ahead of the Senedd election on 7 May, though he did not elaborate as we are now in the pre-election period where councils and other public entities get very jumpy to ensure no bias is shown.

“It’s so important that the mail is delivered on time,” he also publicly repeated common rumours locally, “I just hope that what’s being said out there – that mail is not being delivered, has been kept and held back – I really hope that’s not the case.”

Deputy Leader Cllr David A Bithell, said delivery times had worsened noticeably.

“Royal Mail used to come in the morning. You’re lucky now if it comes in the afternoon. But it’s what day of the week it comes on, because sometimes it’s three or four days later than people have contacted me to say”


He was careful to separate the service from the workers who deliver it. “I have to say, I feel sorry for them, really, because this is not their doing. This is the doing of the Royal Mail Service, not the workers.”

Several councillors members backed the proposal and drew the same distinction. Cllr Hugh Jones said he wanted the initiative to proceed but asked that frontline staff be acknowledged.

“I think it’s important to pay tribute to the frontline people who deliver the mail. They’re a very important part of our community,” Jones said. “The local post office delivery person is key in the community in terms of communicating, keeping an eye out for vulnerable people.”

Cllr Robert Ian Williams agreed. “The workforce are second to none. Our local postman walks an average of 12 miles a day,” he said. “Quite a few of my residents are concerned about the post issue, and we don’t get a daily delivery, it seems sometimes.”


Cllr Rob Walsh said the volume of reports coming from residents was what prompted action.

“I’ve had anecdotal stories shared with me from residents concerned that they’ve missed important post – vitally important posts – things like hospital appointments,”

“Because these anecdotes are getting more common, we need to get to the bottom of this. It could be that it’s nothing, just unfortunate. But we can’t take that risk.”

The most serious claims came from Cllr Marc Jones, who said postal workers had told him parcels were being prioritised over letters.

“Speaking to postal workers who say that parcels are being prioritised over letters because that’s where the money is,” he said.

Cllr Marc Jones also relayed an allegation about Wrexham’s sorting office, which he attributed to people he said were present at the time, “When the local MP visited Wrexham sorting office – because I think this is a specific problem in Wrexham sorting office – that the mail was concealed by management from the MP, now it’s a very serious allegation. I’m taking the word of people who were there but, but we really do need to get to the bottom of this.”

Cllr Marc Jones said he had already raised delivery concerns directly with Royal Mail management in Wales without result. “I have raised it directly with Royal Mail management in Wales, but I’ve yet to see improvements, I’ll be honest with you,” he said. “So I fully support this initiative.”

Cllr Brian Cameron agreed with points made and noted the cost of stamps as adding to the frustration. “You post a letter today, you don’t know whether they’re getting it today, in seven days’ time, the next day or whatever…. and don’t forget, first class stamp has just gone up – I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” He said he believed competition from next day parcel delivery services was a contributing factor.

The motion was passed. Cllr Pritchard confirmed he would write directly to senior Royal Mail management, saying: “I will go to the top.”

It is unclear if Cllr Pritchard expects the letter to be received by the Royal Mail top brass quickly.