BASINGSTOKE’S delivery office is experiencing “very high levels of absence” this week following a Covid outbreak, resulting in further disruption to postal services across the town.

Information on the Royal Mail website states that it cannot guarantee that deliveries will happen every other day in Basingstoke, but it is prioritising the delivery of Covid-19 vaccination letters and test kits.

Royal Mail told the Gazette yesterday that “a number of colleagues have tested positive for coronavirus at the Basingstoke delivery office” in Priestley Road, resulting in delays to postal deliveries across the town.

It confirmed today that around 29 members of staff are isolating “as a result of Test and Trace guidance”.

However, it has not confirmed how many staff are off altogether.

A member of staff who works at the delivery office said that more than 70 of his colleagues are off work.

Ady Hargreaves, who works for Royal Mail, posted on The Gazette’s Facebook page on Sunday saying: “Over 70 of my work colleagues off, either with Covid, isolating or awaiting test results. We are trying to get things delivered, trying to cover three walks each instead of our normal one.

“People are working their days off, and also cancelling their holidays to help get things moving. Also, people working on a Sunday to help. Please be patient with us, we are doing our best.”

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “We are managing the situation by offering our people additional overtime and deploying additional temporary workers. We are taking necessary precautions and preventative measures and are working hard to deliver as normal a service as we can.”

It said it expects staffing levels to “return to normal over the coming weeks” adding: “As well as encouraging good hand hygiene, standard ways of working have been revised to ensure that colleagues maintain appropriate social distancing at all times.”

  • To speak to a reporter about this, email emily.roberts@basingstokegazette.co.uk