Royal Mail cuts postal deliveries

The Royal Mail is to launch trials of new "delivery patterns" which will lead to post arriving later and the ending of second deliveries, it was announced today.

The changes, to be tested in 14 areas of the UK, will mean a single delivery arriving by lunchtime.

The plans, due to be extended across the country from the autumn, are expected to lead to job losses among postal workers.

The Royal Mail said it was reviewing its delivery services in a move to increase efficiency as more of its markets were opened up to competition.

The review is aimed at driving down costs and boosting the reliability of mail so that more first class post arrives on time.

Customers receiving large volumes of mail are likely to have earlier deliveries.

"Royal Mail has to deliver a reliable universal service to everyone for the price of a stamp, including to many places where the cost of that service is considerably more than 27p," said a

Royal Mail spokesman.

"The regulator is increasing the pressure on Royal Mail with the proposal to open the most profitable elements of the market to competition in just a few weeks time.

"Our delivery patterns have not changed for many years and we believe there is scope to increase efficiency and improve reliability."

Change was a "necessity" to safeguard the future of an affordable next-day delivery service for everyone, said the Royal Mail.

The trials will start within the next few months in Crawley, Sussex; Bow in east London; Edinburgh; Sheringham in Norfolk; East Manchester; Llanelli; Newbury; Newhaven; Loughborough; Halifax; Plymouth; Ballymena; Thirsk and St Helens.

Around 100,000 customers will be affected.

The Royal Mail said some people will receive later deliveries, although others could see no change, or even have post delivered earlier than at present.

The trials will formalise the end of second deliveries, which in practice are not made in most areas.

There had been speculation that post might not be delivered until mid-afternoon, but the Royal Mail said the changes will mean a single delivery, six days a week, by lunchtime.

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