Covid-19 Bristol: BS3, BS13 and BS41 hit by postal delays with residents receiving an ‘avalanche of Christmas cards’

Royal Mail say they are working to resolve postal delays that have befallen three postcode areas of Bristol - with one resident claiming they recently received an ‘avalanche’ of Christmas cards several weeks late.

Post is currently delayed across the south Bristol postcode areas of BS3, BS13 and BS41, the postal service has said on its website.

The three postcodes cover a large area of south Bristol, including Bedminster, Headley Park, Hartcliffe, Bishopsworth, Long Ashton and Withywood.

The service, which has blamed ‘outsourcing issues’ at the South Bristol Delivery office, has apologised and said targeted support to offices would be provided to help restore the ‘high standard’ of service.

The disruption was flagged up in the Southville, Ashton and Bedminster Information Board on Facebook.

One local, Nicky Coates, said she’d received Christmas cards recently which were posted in mid-December.

“We’ve had a couple of avalanches of Christmas cards over the past few days,” she wrote yesterday (January 12).

“I think they’ve emptied a few of the older bags. One was posted on 14 December.”

Jamie Edwards replied today: “Same, two through yesterday from early December.”

Another local Tracey Holbrow, said she hadn’t received post since before Christmas in the Headley area.

BristolWorld contacted Royal Mail on the issue.

A spokesperson said: “Deliveries are operating as normal across most of the country. We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week.

“In a small number of local offices this may temporarily not be possible due to local issues such as COVID-related self-isolation, higher than usual levels of sickness absence, resourcing or other local factors.

“We are providing targeted support to the local offices affected by these issues and we apologise to customers for any inconvenience they may have experienced.

“Our postmen and women are continuing to work incredibly hard, as they have done throughout the pandemic, and we are thankful for all of their efforts and determination.”