Royal Mail blasted after residents on Portsmouth estate do not get mail delivered for weeks
A PENSIONER has blasted the Royal Mail after saying people have been left ‘upset’ and ‘concerned’ with mail deliveries not arriving through the post while others receive their daily post as normal.
The ‘inequality’ taking place on the Highbury Estate, Cosham, has raised concerns that some residents are not receiving important mail - including bank letters or post from loved ones who are unable to see relatives during the coronavirus pandemic.
Trudie Fewings, who lives in Edgerly Gardens, told The News that houses at the top of the estate were still receiving mail but other properties, especially those on side roads, were lucky to see deliveries every fortnight.
Yet despite complaints to the Royal Mail, problems continue to affect households on the estate.
The 78-year-old said: ‘The mail on the estate seems to be completely biased or erratic. It is getting ridiculous.
‘I had to wait 13 days for an important letter from the bank and that was only after complaining.
‘When it came it was with a pile of mail that should have been delivered during previous weeks. Since then I have had nothing and there are quite a lot of items I am expecting.
‘I realise things are difficult at this time but I don’t understand why certain parts of the estate are getting regular deliveries whilst others are forgotten.’
Ms Fewings said others in a similar situation have complained but have struggled to get to the bottom of things.
‘When I complain to Royal Mail they say they will look into it but nothing seems to change. Others have complained and got nowhere too,’ she said.
‘The inequality of some receiving mail and others not is strange. It is starting to get on my nerves.’
She added: ‘I’m not the only one - it is upsetting other people who have not received mail from family or for children’s birthdays.
‘A lot of people can’t get out and rely on their mail.’
Other people have reported delivery problems since the coronavirus lockdown with the Royal Mail revealing the pandemic has taken its toll.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: ‘We are working hard to deliver the most comprehensive service we can to all our customers in challenging circumstances. Despite our best endeavours, it is possible that some areas of the country may experience a reduction in service levels due to coronavirus-related absences at their local mail centre or delivery office.
‘We always endeavour to keep our customers as informed as we can of any changes to our services. We have a dedicated section on our website https://www.royalmail.com/coronavirus.’
A statement on the company’s website says Royal Mail has taken measures to counter the ‘severe absence levels’ including ‘changing the time guarantee on Special Delivery and deploying non-operational managers in delivery’.
Additional overtime for staff and a ‘very significant investment in protective equipment’ has also been introduced.