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The Royal Mail is looking to make significant changes to the way post is moved from the UK to Jersey, hoping to introduce a ferry service and change Jersey's next-day delivery rules.
The proposed changes, which are currently out for consultation, are part of the Royal Mail's strategy to "simplify and update" their operation.
Jersey's mail currently arrives via a dedicated daily flight. However, the Royal Mail argues that, due to declining volumes of letters, using a ferry instead would offer a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly option.
"Royal Mail keeps its operations under regular review. As part of this, Royal Mail and Jersey Post and Isle of Man Post Office are exploring the implications of changing from a flight to a ferry... This is in the context of declining letter volumes and would provide an opportunity to jointly reduce costs, while demonstrating our commitment to minimising our impact on the environment," the consultation document read.
It added: "This is also in line with Royal Mail's environmental plan, Steps to Zero, which looks to reduce reliance on flights as the company works towards its 2040 net zero target. It would result in a two-day service for sending and receiving mail from the UK."
The Royal Mail said that it is not reviewing the flight to and from the Bailiwick of Guernsey "at this stage", but added that "we may do so in the future." If the ferry changes are approved for Jersey, the Royal Mail would be able to make such a change "without further consultation".
Also proposed is a change in the definition of 'Due Date' in the Channel Islands to allow for additional working days for sending and receiving mail.
Pictured: Royal Mail is considering changing its service to Jersey.
The Royal Mail is bound by Ofcom regulations to offer a next-day delivery service. This means that, for customers who pay for First Class delivery, the 'Due Date' for a package sent is the following working day from the date of posting. For customers who pay Second Class, the 'Due Date' is the third working day following the date of posting.
Jersey is not bound by Ofcom regulations but it has nonetheless historically had the same 'Due Dates' as the UK.
However, the Royal Mail now wishes to change these to allow for an extra working day for packages to arrive in the Channel Islands.
Royal Mail said that this change "would allow us to continue to offer a reliable service" to the island, without being bound by Ofcom regulations.
The cost of sending letters locally and to the UK rose at the beginning of the year, partly as a result of the volume of mail being sent declining while operating costs - including transit and fuel - increased significantly.
The consultation will be open until 2 June. Any changes will take effect on 3 August. You can view the consultation document HERE.
Express has contacted Jersey Post for comment.
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Lets hope our "government" and "Jersey Post" ensure this proposal is stopped.
based batteries in the post? They use the excuse that they are unsafe to ship via air-mail, so if it's changing to a surface-based service then they should change those rules too.
based batteries in the post? They use the excuse that they are unsafe to ship via air-mail, so if it's changing to a surface-based service then they should change those rules too.
Over the subsequent years the amount of post coming from the UK has increased considerably because of the internet. Has all this been taken into account?
Without question a step backwards for the Postal system who will not be able to compete on the courier market, they are appointed agents for Fed Ex who won't be happy with accepting a second rate service. Interesting times for JPO
If Royal Mail gets its way, Jersey Post should step in to continue a mail plane service.
to my sister in the UK at the Airport, one was a get well card as she had open heart surgery 5 days before.She received it on the 16th of May, 13 days later. Can anyone explain how Amazon can deliver parcels to Jersey in 3 or 4 days, yet a card takes 13 days going the other way