Postcomm invites postal comments: Northern Ireland, Shetland and Orkney Islands and Bristol
23 May 2003
Concerned about postage stamp prices, delays in the mail, or the plight of urban and rural Post Offices? People who want to discuss these and other postal concerns are invited to public meetings in Londonderry, Lerwick, Kirkwall and Bristol, hosted by Postcomm, the government regulator responsible for postal services.
Postcomm sets the prices that Royal Mail can charge for letter post and determines its service quality targets. It is also responsible for the recent introduction of competition into business postal services and for advice to the government on the future of the Post Office network.
The meetings, all timed to start at 7pm, will be at the following venues:
Londonderry, 28 May: The City Hotel, Queen’s Quay.
Lerwick, 24 June: The Lerwick Hotel. 15 South Road Kirkwall, 25 June:
The Orkney Hotel, Victoria Street Bristol, 8 July: Waterside 2, The Watershed Media Centre, 1 Cannons Road, Harbourside.
Martin Stanley, chief executive of Postcomm said:
“Big changes are happening in postal services throughout the UK, and Postcomm is keen to hear local opinion. I hope as many people as possible will come along and tell us what they think.”
Notes for editors
Postcomm sets the prices that Royal Mail can charge for letter post (1st and 2nd class stamp prices rose by 1p last month) and determines its levels of service. It is also responsible for the recent introduction of competition into business postal services. Currently Postcomm is consulting on the definition of the universal postal service, where mail is collected and delivered for the same stamp price throughout the UK, as well as the access price for UK Mail to use Royal Mail to provide final delivery of its post.
The first phase of competition in postal services, for bulk mail business services, began on 1 January. It opened up around 30% of the UK letter market by value to competitors of Royal Mail. By 2007 all restrictions on market entry will be removed.
Media correspondents are welcome to cover the meetings.
