With some addresses in the borough getting only one postal delivery every fortnight, Croydon South Conservative MP has written to Alistair Cochrane, Royal Mail’s interim CEO: ‘This…cannot reasonably be characterised as a short-term disruption’.
Here’s MP Chris Philp’s letter – sent by email – in full:
Dear Mr Cochrane
I am writing to raise serious and long-standing concerns about unacceptable postal delivery failures affecting Croydon South, particularly those linked to the CR5, CR2, CR8 and CR0 postcodes.
Royal Fail: interim CEO Alistair Cochrane
In June 2025, the BBC reported that only 70% of first-class mail was delivered on time in Croydon, well below the statutory target of 93%.
This is not an isolated local issue but part of a wider national failure, reflected in the fact that Royal Mail has been fined four times by Ofcom in recent years for missing its delivery targets.
That said, the situation in parts of Croydon South has become especially acute. Residents report highly irregular deliveries, with some areas experiencing extended periods with no letter deliveries at all. This has now been ongoing for several months and cannot reasonably be characterised as a short-term disruption.
The consequences are serious and entirely foreseeable. Missed NHS appointments, unpaid bills and delayed official correspondence are no longer isolated incidents but routine occurrences for constituents and local businesses.
Royal Mail is under a clear legal obligation to deliver 93% of first-class mail within one working day of collection and 98.5% of second-class mail within three working days.
The service currently being experienced in Croydon South falls well short of these statutory duties. References to staffing shortages or operational pressures do not explain, let alone excuse, prolonged non-compliance with clear legal requirements.
I would therefore be grateful if you could explain why these failures continue in Croydon South, what concrete steps are now being taken to resolve them, and when residents and businesses can expect a return to a reliable and legally compliant service.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Chris Philp MP
Member of Parliament for Croydon South
Shadow Home Secretary
Read more: Royal Fail: MP Philp calls on business secretary to intervene
- What’s the longest delay that you have experienced recently between a post item being sent and you receiving it?
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2026, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for an EIGHTH time in nine years, in Private Eye magazine’s annual round-up of civic cock-ups
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This declining Service is a direct result of its privatisation by the Conservative and Lib Dem coalition. These politicians were warned this would cause a worst service and it has! Its profit before service and it is this that should be reversed and all Croydon Politicians should lobby for Royal Mail back into public ownership
As a strong proponent of privatisation of public services Chris Philp should accept a degree of responsibility himself for the dismal service provided by Royal Mail. As he should for the poor service provided by Thames Water, Southern Rail and other privatised utilities.
Ah Philp has woken up, The cockwomble is a member of a party than relentlessly privatised public services and is largely to blame for the shit show that is Royal Mail! Hwhat a dick!
I certainly experience the phenomenon of no mail for days, then six letters all arrive at once. This has happened many times.
The other problem is that I live in a block of flats whose address is 1 My Road. Next door is another block: 3 My Road. We frequently receive letters for the next door block. When I see them, I deliver them correctly but I cannot guarantee that everyone does this. Nor do I have any guarantee that letters delivered to 3 My Road get redelivered to 1 My Road. If only posties could were able to read properly. I complained to Royal Mail. Their response was along the lines of “that’s the way it is.”
My postcode starts with CR0 and I get one mail delivery a week, last week I received 10 letters, it seems that parcels are getting through as I get them regularly even if they are left in plain view of eveyone if I am not at home
Neighbours and I in CR5 have resorted to collecting our own mail from the Coulsdon Sorting Office.
Notable events in 2015 – Chris Philp elected to parliament. Tory Government sells it’s final stake in Royal Mail.
Would be good to hear from Royal Mail staff and unions on what they think about this