Royal Mail is making some changes to the way it delivers mail in Newton Aycliffe over the next few weeks as part of its ongoing transformation programme being undertaken across the UK.
From Monday 10 March, postmen and women will use new delivery methods such as vans and trolleys to deliver letters and the growing numbers of parcels to customers. Royal Mail will be writing to every address in the DL5 sectors 4 to 7 and sector 9 Postcode areas about the changes it is making.
The postal operator provides one of the most comprehensive and best value mail services in Europe. Our postmen and women play a vital role across the UK, where we deliver to 29 million addresses, six days a week.
However, we need to transform the way we operate. Our modernisation programme does not alter the service we provide to customers or change our commitment to our Universal Service Obligation.
We are making changes in Newton Aycliffe to maintain our services, all local postmen and women will continue delivering in the town and there are no job losses. It means that postmen and women, who now handle a mix of letters and more parcels, will use trolleys instead of the traditional over the shoulder satchels and two postmen will share vans to deliver items together in an area.
In Newton Aycliffe, Royal Mail has invested in twelve new vans and thirty-five trolleys to enable postmen and women to deliver the mail more efficiently.
These changes can require a period of adjustment for staff. However, Royal Mail will be doing everything possible to maintain a high level of service and thanks customers for their understanding.
Royal Mail Delivery Director, Bob Storey, said: “We are proud of the high regard in which our postmen and women are held in Newton Aycliffe. The changes to delivery routes will mean that a member of our local and experienced team will still be delivering to our customers in Newton Aycliffe.”
“The local delivery team and I are fully committed to providing a high quality of service that is as reliable and friendly as customers have come to expect from Royal Mail in Newton Aycliffe over many years.”
Why we are making these changes
The way in which we communicate with each other has changed dramatically. Unfortunately, fewer letters are now posted every day and Royal Mail needs to organise its delivery routes to be as efficient as possible. We also deliver more larger items and so we are investing in new equipment to carry these items to customers even more securely.
The new equipment also reduces the risk of injury to our postmen and women from carrying heavier mail bags.
What this means for Newton Aycliffe
• Royal Mail will continue to deliver in the morning and for a longer period during the day. Many customers will continue to get their mail by lunchtime.
• The time customers receive mail will depend on where they live on the new delivery route. This may be later or possibly earlier than current delivery times.
• When mail volumes vary, we may need to adjust delivery arrangements and times.
If customers have any queries after they have received a letter, they can call our Customer Services Team on 0845 601 1399.
Our deaf and hard of hearing customers can use our Textphone: 0845 600 0606.
