Postal service in 'crisis', say residents and MP

Royal Mail has apologised for the postal delays near Dorking

Residents and an MP in part of Surrey area have criticised Royal Mail over delays to postal deliveries.

Brian Nicholls-Lee, from Buckland, told BBC Radio Surrey he had faced long waits for important letters, such as those containing hospital appointments.

The 86-year-old said he had had no post for five weeks on one occasion when the person who usually delivered his mail went on holiday.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said they were sorry to hear of the concerns raised by residents in the Dorking area.

"We are working to improve service levels in the area," they said. "Our local team is working very hard to ensure mail arrives on time."

'Nobody is coming'

Mr Nicholls-Lee, who has lived in the area for 27 years, said he thought issues with the postal service were down to cost-cutting measures, which meant there were not enough staff.

"The problem is quite serious," he said. "Nobody is coming at all."

Mary Davidson, from Buckland, told BBC Radio Surrey her post had also been delayed.

She said the service had been getting better since problems first began a few years ago, but things had since deteriorated.

Ms Davidson said that people needed a postal service they could be confident in.

"This has gone on for far too long," she said. "Something has to be done."

Chris Coghlan, MP for Dorking and Horley, said 25% of mail in his constituency arrived late, and people had missed tax demands from HMRC.

People in the area were "lucky if [they] received post once a week," he said.

Coghlan slammed Royal Mail's plans to deliver second-class letters only every other weekday and axe Saturday deliveries.

"Royal Mail says they are in the black, but their first move is to cut the service people depend on the most.

"It is completely unacceptable," the Liberal Democrat added.

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "We provide cover so that deliveries continue when a regular postie is on leave.

"However, on occasion this can be affected by local resourcing pressures, such as higher than usual sick absence or vacancies."