Royal Mail gets go ahead for HUGE change to deliveries in massive shake-up
The postal service has been told it can deliver second-class letters every other weekday and not on Saturdays to help cut costs, the industry regulator has said.
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Ofcom said that a reform to the Universal Service Obligation (USO) was needed as people are sending fewer letters each year.
As a result stamp prices keep rising and the cost of delivering letters goes up.
Under the current one-price-goes-everywhere USO, it means Royal Mail has to deliver post six days a week, from Monday to Saturday.
It also must deliver parcels on five days - from Monday to Friday.
The decision comes as part of proposals laid out by industry regulator Ofcom.
Ofcom said Royal Mail should continue to deliver first-class letters six days a week but second class will be limited to alternate weekdays.
Natalie Black, Ofcom's group director for networks and communications, said the changes are "in the best interest of consumers and businesses".
She added: 'Urgent reform of the postal service is necessary to give it the best chance of survival.
'But changing Royal Mail's obligations alone won't guarantee a better service – the company now has to play its part and implement this effectively."
She said that the regulator will make sure Royal Mail is clear with its customers about what is happening and pass the benefits of the changes on to them.
She also added: 'As part of this process, we've been listening to concerns about increases in stamp prices. So we've launched a review of affordability and plan to publicly consult on this next year.'
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