MP calls for regulator to step in and hold Royal Mail to account as local delivery targets missed

Westmorland and Lonsdale’s Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron has slammed Royal Mail as just 73% of first-class deliveries in the Lancaster post code area were delivered on time, well below the 93% target.

It means that 20% of first-class deliveries were delivered late in the South Lakes in the past year.

Meanwhile the picture isn’t much better in North Cumbria where just 81% of first-class deliveries in the Carlisle post code area were on time.

Tim has now called for greater accountability on missed targets to help improve parcel delivery and turn around a service that is “failing people here in Westmorland”. Tim also called on the regulator OFCOM to step in and “act on these unacceptable delays”.

Tim said: “These missed targets are shocking and are leaving countless people in the lurch here in Westmorland. They should not be forced to put up with this disruption.

“This saga has been going on for far too long and people are rightly sick to the back teeth of it. 

“This is not the postie's fault, it’s as a result of senior managers at Royal Mail overloading them with work.

“It is time OFCOM stepped in to act on these unacceptable delays and hold this failing service accountable for letting people down.

“I will continue to do everything in my power to pressure Royal Mail into finally turning this around so people in our area can finally get the service they expect and deserve.”