Farron questions wisdom of 'no Sunday collections' decision

3.00.00pm GMT Tue 30th Oct 2007

Local MP Tim Farron is submitting a parliamentary question to John Hutton, the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the impact of the decision that Royal Mail have taken to halt Sunday collections.

Mr Farron will also be asking for the Minister's assessment of the impact on rural areas of this and other decisions, such as that which would restrict the speed at which post vans can travel. Under EU regulations, the 7.5 tonne vans can only travel at a maximum of 56mph, which will lead to many deliveries arriving late.

Tim Farron said:

"This week, for the first time in 17 years, post was not collected on a Sunday, I am dismayed by what appears to be another decision from Royal Mail that appears solely driven by the search for bigger profit margins.

"Add this to the fact that many deliveries are now arriving late because of a ridiculous piece of red-tape that many other EU countries will choose not to enforce.

"In rural areas post is now arriving so late that it is costing local business a whole day in comparison with their urban-based competitors. I hope that the Secretary of State will consider urging Royal Mail to reverse there decisions."