Tag: Royal Mail

Consultation Starts On Changes To Post Office Network – Post Office Ltd announces plans for West Berkshire and Wiltshire

Posted by | Dec 11, 2007 | |

Post Office Ltd today opened a six week local public consultation on its Area Plan for West Berkshire and Wiltshire. The formal period of public consultation is six weeks but this has been extended by ten calendar days for this plan to allow for the Christmas and New Year breaks. In line with the criteria and factors set by the Government in its Response document, DTI The Post Office Network, Government response to public consultation May 2007 the Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office® services through a network of 234 branches across the area, resulting in the closure of 36 existing branches.

Under the proposals, more than 99.4pct of the area’s population will either see no change to their nearest branch, or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

In addition to the 223 branches which are proposed to remain in the West Berkshire and Wiltshire area, Post Office Ltd is proposing to establish 11 outreach services, which would use innovative ways to continue to provide Post Office services- particularly in smaller communities – where the existing branch is proposed for closure.

Possible types of outreach service in West Berkshire and Wiltshire could include a mobile service visiting small communities at set times, a hosted service operated within third party premises for restricted hours each week, or a partner service within the premises of a local partner.

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Decisions on East Midlands Post Office® Branches Announced

Posted by | Dec 11, 2007 | |

Post Office Ltd today announced decisions on the future of Post Office® branches across the East Midlands area following a six week public consultation ending on 12 November. Post Office® services will be provided through a network of 360 branches, which supports the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government and ensures that 99 pct of the county’s population will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

The plan confirmed today means that 75 branches will close in the East Midlands’ with the first closures scheduled to take place in January 2008. These branches were detailed in the Area Plan proposal published on 2 October 2007.

The replacement of 11 branches by outreach solutions was also confirmed in principal today subject to final agreement with Postwatch. Post Office Ltd is now working on finalising the details of the specific solution that replaces each branch, this information will be published shortly. The outreach solutions could include a mobile service visiting small communities at set times, a hosted service operated within third party premises for restricted hours each week, or a partner service within the premises of a local partner .

Two branches originally proposed for closure – Melton Road and Ryhall Road – will now remain open following a review of the issues raised during consultation.

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Royal Mail faces investigation over late letters

Posted by | Dec 10, 2007 | |

Royal Mail is facing an investigation over claims that letters are being delivered late because postmen are failing to complete their rounds.

The mail watchdog, Postwatch, will look into the issue after receiving complaints from the organisation’s staff as well as customers.

Problems with postal deliveries have been blamed on new working practices introduced after strikes by the Communication Workers Union, and a new 56 mph speed limit for lorries, which means that mail is arriving later at sorting offices.

Postwatch will survey thousands of householders to find out whether mail is arriving on time.

The investigation will focus on a practice known as “cutting off”, where workers take undelivered mail back to the delivery office at the end of a shift, rather than finishing the round in overtime.

Royal Mail says it has already fitted its lorries with speed limiters in advance of European Union rules which will restrict their speed from January 1.

Postal workers, writing in an online forum, have threatened to disrupt deliveries at Christmas. One said: “I am cutting off every day in December.” Another said: “I for one will be finishing at my time.”

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The UPU publishes its world postal statistics for 2006

Posted by | Dec 10, 2007 | |

Letter volumes are stabilizing, the growth in parcel volumes is continuing, and postal revenue is sharply up: these are the three major trends highlighted in the worldwide postal statistics for 2006, published today by the Universal Postal Union.
Since 1875, the UPU has gathered statistics from the operators designated by UPU members around the world to provide the universal postal service. Of the 191 UPU member countries, 163 responded to the 2006 questionnaire. The figures are therefore based on information provided by participating Posts and UPU estimates.

With a total of 433 billion mail items, domestic letter-post traffic was slightly up compared to 2005, returning to the same level as in 2000. The strongest growth was in Africa (+2.1 pct), while the Arab countries saw the biggest drop (-2.5pct). Generally speaking, advertising items had a positive impact on mail volumes, which have faced heavy competition from electronic communications over the past few years.

Volumes of international letter post (5.5 billion items) were down 2pct overall, though there was wide regional variation, with volumes up 8.1pct in the Caribbean, and down a full 15 pct in Africa.

With a total of 6.235 billion items in the domestic and international services combined, parcels traffic was up 4.8 pct compared to 2005.

The biggest rise in domestic parcels traffic was seen in Africa (+11.7). For the international service, it was Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) which saw the biggest increase (+21.4pct). The delivery of merchandise ordered via the Internet is thought to be one of the growth factors.

With a total of 204.8 billion SDR* (equivalent to 308.1 billion USD), worldwide postal revenue was up 13pct compared to 2005. This growth was shared by three-quarters of UPU member countries. Letter post still generates more than half (52.3pct) of operating revenue, but this figure was 7.7pct lower than in 2005. Meanwhile, revenue generated by parcels and logistics services rose by 6pct to contribute 27pct of global revenue. Financial products accounted for 14pct of revenue.

*SDR = Special Drawing Right, the UPU’s official unit of account. At 31 December 2006,
1 SDR was worth 1.5044 USD.

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Royal Mail set to deliver a record 120 million items ordered online (UK)

Posted by | Dec 9, 2007 | |

Online retailers are set to enjoy a bumper Christmas this year as Royal Mail predicts it will deliver a record 120 million items ordered online this festive season – double the number handled just three years ago.

The UK’s 27 million online shoppers are expected to spend GBP 15 billion online in the run up to Christmas, up 60 per cent on last year, according to industry body IMRG.

Royal Mail has been working with internet retailers to plan for the online rush for Christmas presents and to ensure it delivers a high level of service.

And to help online stores offer the best service possible, Royal Mail recently launched two new services to improve the delivery experience for shoppers. Royal Mail Tracked enables retailers to provide their customers with a tracking number when the goods ordered are dispatched so that the shopper can track the progress of the delivery themselves. And the Safeplace service also gives shoppers the opportunity to specify a safe, alternative delivery point, such as a shed, porch or neighbour, should they not be at home to receive the item.

Royal Mail’s Home Shopping Tracker Study 2007 revealed that the average online shopper now purchases over 27 times a year, spending GBP 1,221. But the role of catalogues in the virtual world is a strong as ever, and shoppers who browse them before making purchases online spend GBP 1,526 a year – 25 per cent more than those who don’t.

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