Management shakeup for Royal Mail in SE1 after weeks of disruption

Nearly 250 messages have been posted on the SE1 forum since early December chronicling the severe delays to postal deliveries in the area.

Temporary staff have been recruited by Royal Mail to clear the backlog and many residents have received deliveries on Sundays.

Simon Hughes MP and other local politicians have taken up the complaints from local residents and businesses.

"It is concerning that a number of my constituents are having problems with their post," says Simon Hughes. "Though Southwark, London and the UK were hit by bad weather at Christmas, it is not acceptable that these problems are persisting.

"After being contacted by a number of constituents, directly and then in response to a short survey I conducted, I have taken this matter up with the management at the Mandela Way sorting office. I have asked for a full report into the matter and asked that these issues are resolved as soon as possible.

"I have also informed the management that I have asked the minister in charge of Post Offices, Ed Davey MP, to make a visit to the Mandela Way sorting office in the coming months. The minister has agreed and we hope to set this up for March.

"It will be a good opportunity for management and employees alike to raise their concerns with the minister and hear more about the government's plans for the future of the Post Office."

On Friday 'Kory' posted an extract from a letter sent by Royal Mail chief executive Moya Greene apologising for "the really poor service" in SE1.

She said: "From next week there will be a new management team in the SE1 office who will be driving standards and performance and you will see things getting better."

A Royal Mail spokeswoman confirmed that changes had been made at the SE1 delivery office.

"We apologise to customers in who have experienced disruption to their mail deliveries," said the spokeswoman.

"Improvements to services have already achieved this week and we will ensure that we continue to deliver our normal high levels of service."