SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has criticised Royal Mail for their failure to adequately address issues with the local service and protracted letter delivery delays.
In response to concerns raised by Mr Durkan about addresses in the BT47 and BT48 areas, Royal Mail have attributed problems to staff sickness and vacancies.
According to senior management, at present mail deliveries to addresses across the city are taking place every other day.
Mr Durkan said this falls short of Royal Mail’s obligation as the universal service provider which requires letters to be delivered to customers six days a week.
This week, the Foyle MLA presented Royal Mail with a collection of complaints received from constituents facing the real life consequences of mail delays.
Said the Foyle MLA: “Hugely disappointed not only in Royal Mail’s lack of delivery but their refusal to properly address long standing issues.
“I cannot accept that the significant and prolonged problems with the local service is solely attributable to staff sickness and vacancies.
“I’ve waited over three weeks for Royal Mail to respond to concerns and they roll out the same tired excuse they’ve used elsewhere in the UK.
“Royal Mail can’t continue to use staff as a scapegoat, but rather should take accountability for clear systemic failings.
“As the universal postal service, Royal Mail’s obligations are set out in law which requires a six-day a week mail service and five-day a week delivery for parcels.
“We’ve not witnessed that level of delivery for quite some time – I’ve spoken with constituents in some areas who haven’t received any mail for over three weeks.
“It’s evident that Royal Mail are aware of the issues, otherwise they wouldn’t have approached the UK government last year calling for a five-day a week letter delivery service.
“The assurance that mail deliveries are happening ‘every other day’ doesn’t ring true with the experience of an ever-growing number people we’re hearing from.
“There needs to be a tougher review into Royal Mail looking at the declining quality of service; pay and working conditions for staff and the severe consequences of failure to fulfil their obligations.
“Homeless families are losing out on long awaited offers of housing, people have had benefits suspended and I’ve spoken to individuals right across the city who have missed critical, and in some instances, life-saving hospital appointments.
“This is so much more that a Royal Mail standards issue, for many this is a quality of life issue.”
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