Dozens of residents in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, have been left waiting up to three weeks for their post, with some now travelling to their local sorting office to collect mail themselves — as Royal Mail acknowledges serious staffing shortfalls in the area.
What Has Been Happening
Residents in Tewkesbury say letters and parcels have been arriving intermittently or not at all over recent months. One resident, Steve Moss, said it felt as though postal workers had “vanished into thin air.” Another, Lesley Everiss, described the situation as “shameful,” adding that people in her area were now making their own way to the delivery office to pick up correspondence.
Sandra Smith told reporters she had visited the sorting office directly after being unable to get a reliable delivery estimate. When she asked a member of staff when deliveries to her road would resume, she was told the employee had “no idea whatsoever.” Smith said she now makes a weekly trip to collect her post personally.
The delays have had real consequences for some. One Tewkesbury resident said she turned up to a hospital appointment on the wrong day after the correspondence arrived late.
Royal Mail Response
Royal Mail acknowledged the problems in a statement, saying the local delivery office was “experiencing some resourcing pressures, including vacancies and sickness absence.” The company said it was “actively recruiting to address this” and that deliveries continue daily across the area, though individual routes may at times receive deliveries every other day.
The Tewkesbury situation is not isolated. Gloucester city has faced similar issues for months, with residents reporting second-class letters arriving weeks late, missed medical appointments, and delayed financial correspondence. Royal Mail publicly apologised to Gloucester residents and said it had changed how second-class deliveries work — switching to alternate-day delivery — as part of efforts to reduce backlogs estimated at up to 25% in some sorting offices.
A Pattern Across Gloucestershire
Gloucester MP Alex McIntyre, who organised a public meeting with Royal Mail representatives earlier this year, said the service in the city was “not acceptable” and blamed a staffing crisis — with 16 vacancies at the Gloucester office alone — for driving the problems. He said postal workers were leaving under pressure from both workloads and complaints from frustrated members of the public.
One resident, Russ Brookes, shared how postal delays compounded his grief after the sudden death of his wife. Crucial paperwork failed to arrive on time, including a notice that road tax on his late wife’s car had been cancelled — something he only discovered by chance, avoiding the risk of driving an untaxed vehicle. “When you’re going through a loss, you’re not always in the best headspace, and this additional stress just isn’t needed,” he said.
What Happens Next
Royal Mail says it is recruiting to fill vacancies and that deliveries are continuing across affected areas, even if not on a daily basis for every route. Residents are being advised to contact Royal Mail directly if they are experiencing persistent delays, and to collect time-sensitive items from their local sorting office if needed.
This is a developing story. If you are experiencing Royal Mail delays in Tewkesbury or elsewhere in Gloucestershire, we would like to hear from you.
