A councillor has called for an explanation about why postal services in Lichfield and Burntwood are being hit by delays.

Letter being posted

A number of residents have reported issues with delayed deliveries in recent months.

Royal Mail has stated that it aims to deliver mail at least every other day unless in exceptional circumstances where offices are “severely affected by absence levels”.

But the issue of delays to postal services was raised at a meeting of Burntwood Town Council earlier this week.

Cllr Sue Woodward, leader of the council, was asked whether the authority would approach the Royal Mail to seek reassurances amid concerns urgent post could be being held up.

She said:

Cllr Sue Woodward
Cllr Sue Woodward

“Although this is beyond our direct control as a town council, any issue of concern to our residents is a concern for us as their representatives.

“I had local residents report this to me earlier in the year and was told by Royal Mail that although Covid was having an impact on the availability of postal workers, they would try to ensure their delivery targets would still be met even if deliveries might be later than normal.

“We appreciate that Covid and self-isolation is still having an impact on postal services but the Royal Mail maintains that, even in circumstances where absence levels are exceptionally high, they will still aim to deliver at least every other day.

“While we can understand these pressures and need to be realistic about what can and can’t be done, this doesn’t seem to be happening in lots of areas in Burntwood or more widely.

“I shall therefore be making further enquiries with Royal Mail about what’s happening and what is being done to address current problems.”

Cllr Sue Woodward, Burntwood Town Council

Some residents have reported letters taking more than two weeks to turn up.

Cllr Woodward said people deserved to be told if services were being affected rather than having to wait to see if post turned up.

“It was reported by Royal Mail that there are no exceptions to their stated delivery aims but that doesn’t seem to be what many people are experiencing and we need some honesty from Royal Mail on this.”

Cllr Sue Woodward, Burntwood Town Council

Royal Mail has been approached for comment.

12 Comments
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David Titley
2 years ago

A letter sent first class to Lichfield from Burntwood took 9 days to arrive. Gone are the days when it was a next day service.

David Farmer
2 years ago

It’s been like it since March 2020 don’t see the post man some days

Ed Eaton
2 years ago

And while we’re bashing Royal Mail, can we remind the many postmen and women that the elastic bands they use to bundle the mail do not belong on the pavement, front gardens, or roads…I have lived in three different areas and noticed the amount of elastic bands dumped on postal routes. It’s dangerous to local wildlife, and will take hundreds of years to break down. I once contacted Royal Mail about this but received no response….

Kitty
2 years ago

Ed Eaton, I found a cat choking on one of the red elastic bands on our front lawn, I managed to get it out (not pleasant for anyone involved) but Royal Mail should not throw them around like this. I have also written but got no response.

Alva
2 years ago

My hospital appointment letter arrived 2 weeks after the appointment. Fortunately the NHS send text messages as well

Cllr Paul Flanagan
2 years ago

Delighted to have raised this issue at Burntwood Town Council meeting on behalf of constituents and for the council to have agreed to follow up Royal Mail for justification and plan for remedial action. Looking forward to a swift response.

Margaret
2 years ago

We are only getting post every four days if we’re lucky. My neighbour has resorted to going to the sorting office to collect post.

Susan Eaton
2 years ago

I’ve experienced delays too.
Sometimes not arriving at all.

Grumpy old Man
2 years ago

I quite agree with the comments about Lichfield postal services my solicitor in Lichfield sent 3 !etters on a Friday first class the ones to Rugeley and Somerset arrived on Saturday but the letter sent to me a mile away from the office arrived on the Tuesday ? The answer they gave me ? COVID there’s a lot of postmen off work !!! God help us Xmas time wel get our cards by ???Easter !!!!

June
2 years ago

I am currently on day 9 today waiting for my parcel which was posted from lichfield sorting office!!!!!

School Business Manager
2 years ago

Our school in Lichfield has not received any post since Friday 26th November. We have important documentation relating to the health and wellbeing of students that cannot be emailed, also utility bills to process. We went through a period back in September whereby we didn’t receive a single visit from any postman during the whole of September. The school relied on an office member to call by weekly to collect the post. I myself personally visited the sorting office in Lichfield last Friday and had to wait 50 minutes to be seen then told to wait 10 minutes whilst a ‘search’ was carried out for our post. I was then given 2 letters and told that there was a huge backlog and the post would be sorted over the weekend – guess what? No sign of any postmen today! We have two parcels also waiting to be delivered and the tracking service states delivery expected 2nd December and 3rd December – no sign of either? Are there any other local residents/businesses receiving issues again? We wouldn’t mind a visit once a week but no visits is just not acceptable. I have tried calling Royal Mail twice now and both times I have been on hold for over an hour and had to hang up. No way of contacting Royal Mail via email too.

Chris Parkes
2 years ago

Posted a parcel to WS13 on 29 December 2021…it is now 17 January 2022 and it has still not been delivered…the postal service in Lichfield is a DISGRACE !