BERWICKSHIRE MP CONDEMNS ROYAL MAIL'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS LOCAL RESIDENTS

12.00.00am GMT Tue 22nd Jul 2008

Berwickshire MP Michael Moore has condemned Royal Mail's refusal to engage in the process of finding a solution to the problem of postal addresses for some residents of Berwickshire, which puts them in Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Mr Moore has been working on behalf of residents of Foulden, Hutton, Paxton, Lamberton and Mordington, who are concerned that their postal addresses effectively place them in England. One villager contacted Mr Moore to raise concerns about the impact this was having when he was travelling abroad and completing immigration paperwork. Problems are also being caused by confusion among prospective house buyers.

Mr Moore has criticised the postal address database used by Royal Mail and has requested that they investigate the issue fully. However, in a recent letter to Mr Moore, Royal Mail refused to conduct an investigation and stated that, "there is little to be gained from further dialogue".

Mr Moore has condemned Royal Mail's approach to the problem. He said:

"In my ten years of work as a Member of Parliament, I have to say that it is extremely rare to come across a company or organisation that adopts such a dogmatic stance to an issue that I have raised on behalf of my constituents.

"In correspondence with me, Royal Mail effectively admitted that there is a serious problem with their database, but rejected any sense of responsibility for sorting it out. I am frankly shocked at their attitude and at their refusal to engage in any sort of meaningful dialogue in the pursuit of a satisfactory solution. They are in danger of showing contempt for their own customers."