Read in full MP’s email of complaint to Royal Mail boss

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.

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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