POSTAL delays across the Wellington area have been causing people to miss medical and other appointments as an ongoing shortage of Royal Mail staff affects the town.

The issue arose pre-Christmas with customers worried cards and presents would not be delivered in time and Royal Mail saying it was ‘working to resolve disruption as quickly as possible’.

However, two months on, the problems are still widespread and now Somerset Cllr Andrew Govier has formally written to complain about the level of service, with the town council also compiling its own complaint.

Cllr Govier said there was a ‘noticeable deterioration’ of postal services in Wellington and Rockwell Green with major problems collecting and delivering the post.

He said residents complained they had missed medical appointments because post was not delivered, which would be costing local health services ‘a vast sum’ if patients were not turning up.

Cllr Govier said it was evident the town’s sorting office was short by several staff and it appeared Royal Mail was not able to retain new recruits.

He said: “Anecdotally, I seem to get post about twice a week, and it is usually quite a bundle, mostly unsolicited advertisement flyers.

“Individual posties are getting stick from people when it is not their fault.

“There is no criticism at all of individual posties who do their best in all winds and weathers to provide a service.

“It seems Royal Mail is prioritising parcel delivery, the most profitable and competitive sector of the business, and normal post is delivered as and when, rather than in line with delivery targets.

“I know of one postie who had 200 parcels to deliver on their round and they were not allowed to take letters with them.”

Nationally, Royal Mail was this week given a fortnight by a Parliamentary committee to explain why delays have been happening.