Parcel 'farce' at delivery centre

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HERNE Bay is getting a second-class parcel delivery service as packages are left undelivered in Royal Mail's Eddington Lane depot, it is claimed.

A former staff member has told the Times how posties drop off "could not deliver" cards so customers collect their own parcels.

This week David Banbury, branch secretary of the Communication Workers Union appeared to back up the allegations.

He said: "It has become common practice to hold back packets, parcels and letters due for delivery because of reduced staffing levels.

"This has led, in some cases, to postmen being told to deliver the 'could not deliver' cards with the mail rather than the parcels and packets themselves in the hope most customers will collect them."

But Royal Mail spokesman Nick Martens said: "It is totally untrue to suggest there are vast backlogs of packets and that mail is being deliberately held back at Herne Bay."

But he admitted: "There is a small amount which we are delivering by using extra resources including, when necessary, a Sunday delivery."

He added: "Our very clear policy is to deliver all packets and parcels to our customers' addresses just as we deliver letters. If there are any instances of this not happening, we take firm action to stop it."

David Curtiss of Beacon Hill, Herne Bay, said: "On October 5 we received a card with our normal mail saying the postman could not deliver a parcel because it was too large. We have a porch where the postman normally leaves large items.

"The next day my wife went to the Eddington Lane sorting office and asked why the postman could not have simply rung the bell as we had both been home all day.

"She was told no attempt had been made to deliver the parcel because they had a backlog.

Another reader, who has asked not be named, said: "I had been wondering why a recorded delivery first class parcel took eight days to arrive.

"When I called at the Royal Mail's Eddington Lane sorting office a very helpful staff member found it in a 'mountain' of parcels.

"Often parcels from various locations all arrive at once, often days later than I expected them."

A former postman, who has asked not be named, claimed: "The issue with large packets has been in existence for a while now.

"Postmen regularly tell me that there is a vast backlog and not enough staff or hours to process them.

"Royal Mail, in my opinion, has a problem at Herne Bay delivery office and needs to sort it out."

A source at the centre claimed at one time there had been a number of containers of undelivered parcels, but that there had been "a big effort" to clear the backlog.

He said a team of new "casuals" had started on Tuesday, to be employed for the next 12 weeks, although previously trained "casuals" had been "let go".

Have you had trouble with your mail? Call the news desk on 01843 578169.

[noggin1969]

Royal Mail spokesman Nick Martens

[DGP1]

HERNE Bay is getting a second-class parcel delivery service as packages are left undelivered in Royal Mail's Eddington Lane depot, it is claimed.

Just change the name to your area and that line could be used for your office.

My office has 7/8 yorks of packets sitting for delivery because the packet men have been taken off their duties to do deliveries (and this is before we get our revision and we have nobody off sick and only 2 on leave).