Royal Mail apologises to people of Dudley over postal delays following MP’s letter

Royal Mail has apologised to the people of Dudley over continued delays to postal services in the town.

In a letter to Dudley MP Sonia Kumar, Royal Mail chief executive Alistair Cochrane admitted the company had failed to meet delivery targets in recent years, and apologised for the impact on customers.

Miss Kumar said she welcomed the apology but that Royal Mail would be judged by its results, not promises.

Mr Cochrane committed to a £500 million investment programme aimed at improving reliability and restoring service standards over the next five years, and told Miss Kumar that the company aimed to meet all regulatory quality targets by April 2027.

He said delivery performance had improved compared with the previous year, and that Royal Mail was continuing work to modernise its operations and strengthen its nationwide service.

Mr Cochrane’s letter followed a meeting on Wednesday (November 11) attended by more than 50 MPs from across the country.

Miss Kumar said: "Many residents across Dudley have contacted me about delayed post and the impact this can have on everyday life.

“Whether it's hospital appointments, bills, legal documents or personal correspondence, people rightly expect their mail to arrive on time.

"I welcome the apology from Royal Mail's chief executive and the commitments that have now been made to improve services. However, residents will ultimately judge Royal Mail on results, not promises.

"I will continue to hold Royal Mail to account and ensure the concerns of Dudley residents are heard until we see the reliable postal service that people deserve."