Cumbrians facing 'unacceptable' post delays
PA MediaPeople in west Cumbria are facing "totally unacceptable" delays to their post deliveries, according to an MP.
The Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, Josh MacAlister, said "loads" of constituents had got in touch about important mail reaching them late.
Resident Richard Hardiman, from Cleator, said he was receiving post just once a week.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said local issues were "typically due to temporary resourcing pressures" and the company worked "quickly to restore normal, reliable service".
It comes as Royal Mail faces criticism nationally over claims it is prioritising parcels over letters and workers are being told to hide mail to make it appear they are hitting targets.
The firm has denied prioritising parcels and said it took claims about hiding letters "very seriously".
Special delivery costs
Hardiman said he was receiving mail "once a week" and deliveries could be "over two kilos" when late magazines arrived.
He said he had received a renewal letter from his insurance company, dated 2 March, on 20 March.
"I had to then contact them by sending special delivery, which cost me £9," he said.
BBC/Bob CooperMacAlister said "loads of constituents" had got in touch with him about problems "with really important bits of mail getting to them very late".
He said he had written back to those who had contacted him via first class post and recipients told him responses took between one and three weeks to arrive.
MacAlister, who is also the government's children's minister, added he had informed the relevant minister and Ofcom of the "totally unacceptable" situation.
Speaking to MPs on the Business and Trade Committee on Tuesday, Royal Mail's billionaire owner Daniel Kretinsky said he was "deeply sorry" for any letters that arrived late, but denied the quality of the postal service had declined.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "Where there are local issues, these are typically due to temporary resourcing pressures and we work quickly to restore normal, reliable service."
