Residents of Bridgwater, Somerset, have experienced significant postal delays over the past six months, with some mail reportedly taking weeks to arrive. The backlog has affected the delivery of important correspondence, including medical appointment letters, insurance documents, and communications from the Department for Work and Pensions.

David Gliddon, a local resident, described the disruptions as severe enough that some individuals have resorted to collecting their mail directly from the local sorting office. He noted that wait times at the facility could reach up to an hour. Gliddon himself is awaiting several critical letters, including hospital notifications and insurance paperwork.

Royal Mail attributed the delays primarily to short-term employee absences. A spokesperson for the postal service said that additional staff resources have been deployed recently to address the backlog. They expressed confidence that the delivery schedule would normalize within the coming week.

The ongoing delays have raised concerns among residents about the impact on timely access to essential services and communications. Royal Mail’s response indicates efforts to mitigate the issue, but the extent to which service recovery has progressed remains to be seen.