Royal Mail takes action to reduce impact of severe weather

Royal Mail

Royal Mail has apologised to customers in parts of the UK that have experienced delays to deliveries because of the severe weather currently impacting essential services.

Royal Mail has put in place a range of measures to reduce the impact caused by this disruption.

More than 90% of rounds went out for delivery yesterday (Friday 3 December 2010). The vast majority of the 12,000 Post Office® branches were also open. To limit the disruption to customers, Royal Mai has:

• Switched the distribution of some letters and packets from air to road and rail on routes where those services are currently more reliable following the closure of Newcastle, Bournemouth and Inverness airports last night.
• Started using Prestwick airport in Glasgow for the distribution of mail following the closure of Edinburgh airport.
• Taken on additional trucks and rail services to move mail to distribution centres as close as possible to the area for delivery.

As it does every year, irrespective of the weather conditions, Royal Mail has advised customers to send their cards and order gifts online as early as possible to help it deliver in time for Christmas.

The severe weather disruption means that Royal Mail has had to temporarily withdraw the next day guarantee for its Special Delivery™ service. These items will still be treated with priority. The temporary withdrawal of the guarantee is being communicated to customers through Post Office® branches and the Royal Mail website.

Royal Mail’s Managing Director, Mark Higson, said: "I apologise to those customers who have experienced delays to their deliveries as a result of the severe weather. We are continuing to deliver to the vast majority of addresses but, in some cases, it is not possible to do so because of the weather. A range of measures have been put in place to ensure our deliveries reach people as quickly as possible."

He added: "As we always do at this time of the year, we are advising customers to post their cards and order presents online as early as possible to help us ensure we deliver in time for Christmas."