Royal Mail has received approval to discontinue Saturday deliveries for second class mail starting July 28, marking a significant change in postal service operations.
Under the new arrangement, second class post will now only be distributed on alternate weekdays. Despite the reduced service, the communications regulator Ofcom has confirmed that there will still be a target for second class letters to reach recipients within three working days.
Ofcom had initially proposed to reduce the frequency of second class post deliveries earlier this year, estimating that this adjustment could save Royal Mail between £250 million to £425 million. The volume of letters delivered to UK households has seen a substantial decline from 20 billion twenty years ago to 6.6 billion presently.
Royal Mail has faced penalties exceeding £16 million in the past 18 months due to missed delivery targets and subpar performance. However, first class post will continue to be delivered Monday through Saturday.
Natalie Black, Ofcom’s Group Director for Networks and Communications, emphasized that these changes are aimed at benefiting consumers and businesses by ensuring the postal service’s viability. She highlighted the importance of Royal Mail effectively implementing these alterations and communicating them clearly to customers.
Martin Seidenberg, group chief executive of Royal Mail’s parent company International Distribution Services, expressed approval of Ofcom’s decision, stating that it will enhance the delivery of a dependable, efficient, and financially sustainable universal service.
Tom MacInnes, Director of Policy at Citizens Advice, criticized Royal Mail’s history of failing to meet delivery targets while increasing postage fees. He suggested that slashing services and relaxing delivery standards may not necessarily enhance reliability or service quality.
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