Royal Mail apologises to MP (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Royal Mail apologises to MP

3:13pm Thursday 20th May 2004 in News By James Adlam

THE Royal Mail has apologised for slow, late and erratic deliveries in the borough. Twickenham MP Vincent Cable made strong representations to senior management over the poor service and bosses this week wrote to acknowledge continued dissatisfaction' and promise to do better.

Complaints have escalated following the introduction of the single daily delivery and reports that post is now being delivered in the afternoon or not at all.

Dr Cable said: "The Royal Mail seem to expect us to believe that a single delivery is more difficult to organise than a double delivery. There is some serious mis-management going on here. I have got to know the sorting staff and postal workers at Teddington, Twickenham and Hampton, who are loyal and efficient employees and are as baffled as Royal Mail customers as to why the service is so poor."

The apology comes at the same week as the Communication Workers' Union gave evidence to the Trade and Industry Select Committee about the quality of service in Royal Mail.

Union spokesman Norman Candy said: "The current management team have a lot to answer for. In a short period they have managed to turn the best postal service in Europe into a disaster.

"Unbelievably, they are still claiming that the business is on course to meet its financial targets in 2005 and presumably they will achieve their fat cat bonus payments."