Postcomm allows Royal Mail to suspend postal services on Saturday 27 December
29 October 2003
Postcomm today agreed that there will not be a full postal service on Saturday 27 December.
Normally Royal Mail makes a last collection and delivery on Christmas Eve, followed by two days off – Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 25 and 26 December. Because this year the day after Boxing Day falls on a Saturday, and there are no deliveries on Sunday, Postcomm has agreed to Royal Mail’s request for Saturday 27 December to be declared a ‘no service’ day. This is in line with Royal Mail’s practice in the past (27 December last fell on a Saturday in 1997). Postcomm’s decision also has the support of Postwatch, the consumer body.
Notes for editors
Postcomm’s decision has been based purely on the exceptional circumstances of Saturday 27 December 2003 and cannot be used as a precedent for the future or other public holidays such as Easter Saturday.
This decision is also conditional on Royal Mail complying with certain requirements in the associated Direction. These include safeguards to ensure that all customers are informed by Royal Mail about postal arrangements for 27 December 2003, that Royal Mail clears all pre-Christmas mail and makes collections from key post boxes and from business customers who require it. The Direction includes additional reporting requirements which will allow Postcomm to monitor the effects of its decision on customers. Postcomm’s Direction takes effect today.
The decision document, Direction designating 27 December 2003 as an exception to the Universal Service Obligation, is available shortly from Postcomm at 6 Hercules Road, London, SE1 7DB.
