HOSPITAL appointment letters, bank cards and Christmas presents are some of the many items which residents have failed to receive on time following a postal 'disaster' across the Malmesbury area.
Concerns have been expressed about late confirmation letters and parcels on the Our Malmesbury Facebook group page and some residents said they haven't received any Royal Mail post from more than three weeks.
One postie speaking out on social media described the situation as 'embarrassing' and said the lack of cover during days off and huge rounds plus the added Christmas load has created a 'disaster'.
Douglas Price, aged 63, who lives in Corston village near Malmesbury, told the Standard that his neighbours have received hospital appointment letters after the appointment date.
He is now demanding action and compensation from this 'essential' service which he believes is not fulfilling its duty.
Mr Price said: "Royal Mail is a basic service that people rely on for formal confirmation from banks and hospitals.
"Elderly and vulnerable people are most affected by this as they can't or struggle to access these documents online.
"Royal Mail is an essential part of society which should be delivering post to households six days a week, but it is failing to meet this minimum standard of service.
"Residents have ordered bank cards that never turned up and others have missed hospital appointments because the letters confirming them arrived late.
"For people living alone, something more personal like the absence of Christmas cards could increase feelings of isolation.
"Many periodicals, such as my subscription to The Economist, arrived nearly two weeks late and the news content within it could now be viewed as out of date and worthless.
"These subscriptions cost a lot of money and I am paying for a service that I am not receiving so I want compensation.
"I heard that there is a shortage of postal workers in the Malmesbury area and that Royal Mail are struggling to recruit new staff.
"The current posties are under so much pressure and Royal Mail must take action."
Meanwhile, Malmesbury mayor Gavin Grant has backed Dr Roz Savage's - Liberal Democrats parliamentary candidate for South Cotswolds - calls for action to resolve this issue.
In a letter to the Standard she described the current postal chaos in Malmesbury as an 'unacceptable' situation which 'poses a very real risk to the well-being of the community'.
Dr Savage said: "While undelivered subscription magazines and Christmas cards are an inconvenience, I have heard of alarming cases of individuals not receiving crucial medical appointment letters until after the appointment has passed.
"This situation is unacceptable and poses a very real risk to the well-being of the community.
"Our broken Royal Mail is yet another example of broken Britain, along with other privatised industries that prioritise shareholders over customers.
"A dependable mail service is an essential part of the fabric of our country.
"Yet this particular piece of fabric is now looking very ragged.
"I implore OfCom and the government to take decisive action to ensure that residents in the Malmesbury area and beyond receive the postal services they need and deserve."
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are extremely busy in the run up to Christmas.
"The Malmesbury area has been affected by absences due to sickness and vacancies, however, we are striving to deliver every other day.
"We have also recently hired four new recruits and we expect the situation to improve.”
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