PALIN MITENK BLOG

By Sean Poulter and Lucy Ballinger

The snow is causing havoc with vans attempting to deliver parcels in time for Christmas

Thousands will miss out on their Christmas presents because the snow has led to deliveries being cancelled across large parts of Britain.

Gifts ordered over the internet are not arriving in rural areas where roads have not been gritted and families have not seen any post for days.

The problems are being exacerbated because postmen in some areas have been told they should not try to negotiate slippery paths for health and safety reasons.

Some rural areas which have had inches of snow are not receiving any mail at all
At the same time, the four leading supermarket food delivery services - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Ocado - have delayed or even cancelled thousands of Christmas food orders because their vans are snowed in.

Millions of shoppers have turned to the internet for their Christmas shopping this year amid promises of low prices compared with the High Street. The web is also promoted as efficient and reliable.

However the weather has dented the claims of the industry and threaten a miserable Christmas for many.


Some retailers, such as Marks & Spencer and John Lewis, brought forward their last ordering date to ensure they would not be caught out by the weather.

But other companies did not take this precaution, with the result that many orders that were 'guaranteed' to arrive for Christmas have not turned up.

Management consultant Paul Crosbie, 58, who has a home at Felbridge in Sussex, complained to the Post Office after receiving no mail for four days.

He said: 'I was told that postmen had been advised not to go up slippery roads and paths that had not been cleared.

'I asked whether this was because of health and safety concerns and was told "Yes".

'I remember a time when postmen battled through in all weathers, but now it seems to be any excuse not to deliver.'

Disabled pensioner Maggie Atkins was furious after Tesco first postponed and then cancelled her Christmas food order, which was due to arrive yesterday.

Mrs Atkins, from Overton, near Basingstoke, Hampshire, has to take morphine for pain caused by osteoarthritis and is waiting for an operation to have a new hip.

The 73-year-old widow was nearly in tears as she told how she had been let down by the store.

'I was told my order was cancelled because of the weather,' she said. 'I feel terribly let down.

'The buses are running and the roads are clear, so I can't understand why Tesco's vans can't deliver.

'I live alone and I can't even hobble around a supermarket. I really think Tesco could have offered a priority service to the disabled.'


The snow is preventing Tesco and other supermarket vans from making deliveries

Mrs Atkins will now rely on the of friends and family members to help supply the food she needs.

Royal Mail confirmed that postmen are advised not to attempt to make deliveries if they believe the conditions are dangerous.

'We have to take the safety of our staff into account in these difficult conditions,' said a spokesman.

'More than 95 per cent of Royal Mail's operation is working completely normally but in a very small number of areas some deliveries have been subject to disruption as the severe weather and road conditions mean that we cannot get to some addresses safely.

'We are doing everything possible to deliver all letters and parcels posted by the latest recommended posting dates for Christmas.'

Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda have each cancelled hundreds of Christmas food orders.

Some customers have been advised they can collect their purchases from stores.

A Tesco spokesman said: 'Our staff are working extremely hard and doing everything possible to ensure customers who have ordered online receive their shopping this Christmas.'

Sainsbury's director of online, Tanya Lawler, said: 'We've been offering alternative delivery times where possible.

'Where we are unable to do so due to the high level of customer demand in the run-up to Christmas, we are informing those customers immediately so they can make alternative arrangements.

'In some cases where we can't deliver due to roads being unsafe, customers are given the option of collecting their shopping from the stores direct.'

Ocado said it is hoping to deliver all orders in time for Christmas.

Amazon admitted that customers in some of the worst-hit areas are experiencing delays.

However it insisted deliveries would arrive before December 25.





source: dailymail