Residents collect own post amid delivery delays

Residents in part of Nottinghamshire say they have resorted to collecting their own post due to Royal Mail delays.

People who live in Pavilion Gardens, Skegby, said problems with their deliveries began in November, including Molly, 83, whose son has travelled to a nearby sorting office to collect her mail.

Lee Anderson, Reform UK MP for Ashfield, said he had been contacted by residents "in their droves" regarding the lack of post, including those in Skegby, which he said was "unacceptable".

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said Christmas, weather conditions and staffing pressures had led to some "short-term delays on certain routes", and it was taking steps to provide a more consistent service.

Jason Hirst, Molly's son, said he first went to the Langton Road sorting office in Sutton-in-Ashfield after his mother's post started "trickling away" and he "realised that we weren't going to get any more deliveries".

Molly is currently trying to move house and Jason said she had missed letters from her solicitors and financial advisors due to the delays.

She has also had to go back on an NHS waiting list after a letter about an operation did not arrive, he added.

Molly received a large delivery of post on the evening of 19 January - some of which was marked with a post date of 6 January.

Fellow Pavilion Gardens resident Tony Morley said parcel deliveries appeared to be continuing as normal, but the problem was with letters.

The 71-year-old said: "It seems to be a bit haphazard and there doesn't seem to be any sort of thinking about how best to tackle this.

"It would be good to know either of a plan to maintain some sort of delivery and being informed as to when you're going to receive your mail.

"I've been a homeowner for 45 years and I have never, ever, ever experienced anything like this. It's crazy."

Neighbour Martin Yates, 73, went to the sorting office on 17 January to try to collect his post, but said he was unable to do so as the customer service point was closed.

He added: "There was a guy from the Post Office so I asked him and he said there's no staff.

"He opened the door and showed me all the racks full of post, and said they've not been touched since last Tuesday [6 January].

"I just feel sorry for the post people on the street because they just get all the flack and it's not their fault."

Anderson said he had raised the issue with the government "several times to no avail".

He said: "Many residents in Skegby have not received anything for weeks.

"I will be meeting with Royal Mail [this week], I will not give up on this."

The problem is not limited to Sutton-in-Ashfield, according to the Labour MP for nearby Rushcliffe, James Naish.

He said about 700 constituents had told him about problems with their mail and he had spoken to Royal Mail and MPs from other constituencies about this.

"I don't think that this is absolutely going to go away for good," he said. "But I do believe that there is a plan in place to resolve the current situation."

A spokesperson for Royal Mail, with regards to Sutton-in-Ashfield, said: "Recently, the vast majority of mail in the area has been delivered as expected, with items posted by the last recommended dates all delivered in time for Christmas and the local delivery office clear by Christmas Eve.

"We're taking steps to provide a more consistent service, including recruiting more posties."

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