Elderly Kent residents without post for four weeks

A Kent retirement community has expressed anger after not receiving any letters for four weeks.

Although a "sporadic" service has recently resumed, residents of the 31 almshouses at Huggens College in Northfleet went without post since the middle of November.

Reverend Pam Davies said the lack of postal deliveries and urgency from Royal Mail prompted her to write to local MP, Lauren Sullivan.

Royal Mail said while the festive period was its "busiest time of the year with volumes more than doubling, the vast majority of mail is being delivered on time".

It told BBC Radio Kent earlier this month that it had held a recruitment drive which had resulted in hundreds of new staff joining its mail centres, sorting offices and delivery rounds.

However Ms Davies, who has lived at Huggens College since the summer, said: "I don't know what planet they are living on."

"They may have taken on more workers but we haven't seen any here for weeks.

"All of the residents are elderly and rely on the post to pay utility bills and for notification of medical appointments."

Ms Davies said letter deliveries resumed shortly after she contacted her MP, but the service was "very sporadic".

Another resident, Ann MacLeod, also expressed anger over the lack of mail.

"The number of Christmas cards I've received this year is really down," she said.

"And many of us here are not very tech savvy so we rely on the post to pay our bills."

Derek Martin, 82, who has lived in Huggens College for 18 years said he had to wait four weeks before replacement bank cards and a bus pass were delivered after he lost his wallet.

"It's been really difficult being unable to use the bus and take money out", said Mr. Martin.

A Royal Mail spokesperson added: "When a delivery office is under pressure, including from higher sick absence or vacancies, we put additional support in place and work to keep services moving.

"Last year, 99% of items posted by the last recommended posting dates were delivered in time for Christmas, and our teams are working hard to deliver the same level of service this year."

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