Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell, who represents one of the largest rural parliamentary constituencies in the UK has welcomed new safeguards for postal services announced by Ofcom. Mr Mundell believes that maintaining local access to the Royal Mail network is essential for local residents and businesses in the region. Under new proposals, access to Royal Mail’s estate of 115,500 post boxes will be protected with a requirement that 98 per cent of all households across the UK should be within half a mile of a post box. Mr Mundell is pleased that the Royal Mail share Ofcom’s view that the current requirement, which covers less than half of the UK’s 121 postcode areas and only 15 per cent of its geographic area, is not fit for purpose.
Royal Mail also welcomed the new safeguards for postal services in rural communities set out by the postal regulator Ofcom. Under the proposals, access to Royal Mail’s estate of 115,500 post boxes will be protected with a requirement that 98 per cent of all households across the UK should be within half a mile of a post box. We share Ofcom’s view that the current measure, which covers less than half of the UK’s 121 postcode areas and only 15 per cent of its geographic area, is not fit for purpose.
Royal Mail is pleased that Ofcom has proposed revised requirement that provides protection to the country as a whole and recognises that the current post box estate provided by Royal Mail already meets the needs of users. Ofcom makes clear that Royal Mail is already compliant with its proposed new criteria. Evidence from a range of market research demonstrates the vast majority of users are satisfied or very satisfied with the current level of post box provision.
The new requirement would provide further protection for postal services to those in rural communities. Ofcom recently confirmed that the scope of the Universal Service which guarantees the same service standards for the provision of postal services in rural and urban areas would remain unchanged. Royal Mail is legally obliged to deliver to every address and daily deliveries to rural areas cannot be reduced in the event of the sale of Royal Mail. This obligation is defined in law and cannot be changed unless approved by both Houses of Parliament.
Furthermore, access to postal services is underpinned by the Post Office branch network which is required to meet stringent Government accessibility criteria. Currently 93.1% of people in the UK must be within a mile of a Post Office, and 99.7% within three miles. Post Office branches provide access for larger and signature items, but will accept other items of mail and most also have a post box located in close proximity.
Stephen Agar, Managing Director, Consumer & Network Access, Royal Mail said: “Nine out of ten customers consider Royal Mail a core part of the community – particularly in rural areas, where we are part of the lifeblood of day to day communication. Easy access to post boxes is an important part of this. The number of post boxes in the UK – in both rural and urban areas - has remained stable for the past decade. We are proud that, with our extensive network of over 115,000 post boxes, the UK has the highest level of post box provision per square kilometre of any Western European nation. Amongst the 19 countries measured by the Universal Postal Union, only Japan has a higher geographic density of post boxes.”
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP commented: “This latest decision from Ofcom is an important announcement that will safe guard the future of our rural postal service. Across my constituency people rely on the Royal Mail for business and commercial deliveries as well as correspondence and it is vital that they have ready access. This decision makes it clear that local resident s should not face excessive round trip journeys just to post a letter and will help guarantee that the Royal Mail continues to deliver whatever the outcome of discussions on its future ownership.”