Update on Royal Mail delays in Ardsley, Robin Hood, Tingley, Lofthouse and elsewhere
Short version:
If you are still having problems, please contact my office. Royal Mail have committed to me that they will look into individual cases at my request.
mark.sewards.mp@parliament.uk
Long version:
Earlier this year, many constituents in the locations above wrote to me about post arriving late, or not arriving at all. I met with local representatives from Royal Mail to raise concerns about their delivery performance across our constituency.
I wrote to both Minister Blair McDougall, the Minister responsible for postal services, and Royal Mail. The letter set out the scale of the problem facing my constituents and made an urgent request for improved performance, along with a full explanation of the reasons behind the delays.
I then raised these concerns during an Urgent Question in Parliament on Royal Mail’s failure to meet its Universal Service Obligations. I also requested a meeting with the Minister.
In March, Royal Mail claimed that staff sickness and absence were the reasons behind the delays. After I relayed this information, my constituents said they were still experiencing delays so I wrote to Royal Mail again, challenging its assertion that the delays had been caused by sickness and absence.
I then met with Minister Blair McDougall to address the postal delays directly. I told him about the significant problems delayed post has caused my constituents, and he instructed his team to identify the specific issues affecting our area. They have since provided the following statistics for our constituency:
1. Wakefield Delivery Office
Total headcount: 251
13 posties recruited, with a further two confirmed to start
Recruitment ongoing to fill nine remaining vacancies
2. Morley Delivery Office
Total headcount: 39
Recruitment ongoing to fill five vacancies
3. Tong Road Delivery Office
Total headcount: 39
No current recruitment underway
Royal Mail says the recent relocation of some operations to Leeds City Delivery Office has not caused any disruption.
Royal Mail also shared overall performance for first-class mail in the Leeds postcode area, against the 90% next-day delivery target, up to Q3 2025/26:
Q1: 78.1%
Q2: 74.9%
Q3: 82.8%
Cumulative Q1 to Q3 2025/26: 78.2% (compared with 75.4% UK-wide)
Royal Mail has publicly committed to publishing a Quality of Service Improvement Plan as soon as possible, once its discussions with the Communication Workers Union have concluded.
Today, Royal Mail responded to me again. For transparency, I have attached their letter.
Royal Mail has now offered to look into individual cases affecting constituents. If you are still experiencing delays, please reply to this email confirming your address, so that Royal Mail can investigate the specific issues affecting your deliveries.
I will continue working for you to secure a postal delivery service we can rely on.