I’ve heard from many of you across the Forest of Dean about the problems you’re having with Royal Mail. Letters arriving weeks late, gaps of up to a fortnight between deliveries, and people left wondering where their post has gone. For too many people, it is clear that the service is letting you down.

I hear how frustrating this is. Whether it’s a hospital appointment, an important bill, financial paperwork or simply a letter from a friend or family member, we all rely on our post arriving when it should. Nobody should have to worry about whether an important letter will turn up on time.

That’s why I’ve been raising these concerns directly with Royal Mail and pushing for answers. I’ve written to its Public Affairs Manager, Michael Hogg, about the problems you’ve been telling me about, and I’ve co-signed two letters alongside more than 100 other MPs, one to Ofcom and another to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Trade.

I’ve also met with more than 50 MPs and representatives from Ofcom in Parliament to discuss what’s going wrong and what needs to change. Unfortunately, Royal Mail chose not to send anyone along.

One of the biggest concerns I keep hearing is that parcels are getting delivered while letters are being left behind. Royal Mail continues to insist that parcels aren’t being prioritised, but that doesn’t match what residents, postal workers and trade unions are reporting. People deserve an honest explanation, not just repeated assurances that everything is fine.

There are also serious questions about what’s happening inside Royal Mail itself. The business is forecasting a £200 million loss, and concerns about staff retention are growing, with reports that around 400 postal workers are leaving each week. Our postal workers do a vital job, and they need to be listened to and properly supported.

Ofcom, the regulator responsible for overseeing Royal Mail, has acknowledged that complaints about the service are among the most common issues MPs raise with it. Changes to the postal service are already underway, with Royal Mail expected to meet new delivery targets by April 2027. Ofcom is monitoring an improvement plan and has opened an enforcement investigation into the company’s performance.

But people across the Forest shouldn’t have to put up with poor deliveries while waiting for things to improve.

I’ll keep pushing Royal Mail and Ofcom for answers, better communication and real improvements. We need letters and parcels arriving when they should, postal workers being listened to, and someone taking responsibility when things go wrong.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to get in touch and share their experiences. Please keep letting me know if you’re having problems with your post. The more I understand what’s happening across the Forest, the harder it is for Royal Mail to ignore it.

Please do get in touch at [email protected] if this issue is affecting you.

You deserve better, and I’ll keep pressing for it.