By HELEN COMPSON

Last updated 13:28, Thursday, 03 July 2008

TRADERS across Hexham were furious this week when Royal Mail axed its early business postal delivery service without warning.

Martin Owen

The first businesses knew of the move was when their mail failed to materialise on Tuesday morning – many didn't receive it until mid or late afternoon.

Those who rang up to ask why, were then told that if they wanted their post any earlier from now on, they would have to collect it themselves from Hexham sorting office.

“Royal Mail appears to have a death wish,” said Peter Jewitt, senior partner at Nicholson Portnell solicitors.

“We had already been in touch with our MP over the shambolic postal service we were receiving – and now this. It's absolutely ridiculous!”

Many of Nicholson Portnell's clients still contacted the firm by letter, and its working day was centred round opening the post.

Receiving it so late in the day would affect the firm's level of efficiency, he said.

However, he was told by Royal Mail the root cause was a European dictat that its lorries couldn't do more than 65mph, slowing up deliveries of post.

The Hexham Courant's post, containing cheques as well as advertising copy and sports results governed by publishing deadlines, didn't arrive until 4pm on Tuesday.

Office manager Phyllis Carlisle said: “It was only during my second phone call asking where our post was that I was told there was no longer a special delivery for businesses.”

Proprietor of the Beaumont Hotel, Martin Owen said the service he received had been “atrocious” for many months now – and it was getting worse.

Whereas he had been getting his mail around about lunchtime, this week it began arriving mid-afternoon.

“It's just as well the Royal Mail service is starting to become a thing of the past for me – most of the hotel's payments now are automated and made via email,” he said.

Hexham's MP Peter Atkinson said Royal Mail shouldn't be solving its financial problems at the expense of other businesses.

The early delivery service had been introduced in the first place due to pressure from businesses who needed their mail first thing.

“Now Royal Mail has axed it without any consultation whatsoever – I think this is one for the regulator,” he said.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: “To improve operational efficiency we recently redesigned delivery rounds working out of Hexham Delivery Office.

“There have been some delays to our postmen and women leaving the office as they got used to the new routes, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers.

“We can assure them that the situation is improving each day and we are committed to meeting our aim of completing urban deliveries by around 2pm and rural deliveries by 3pm.”