A Suffolk business group has highlighted the need for a "reliable Royal Mail" as the postal service has announced proposals for reform.

Royal Mail said in 2004/5 it posted 20billion letters but, by 2022/23, the number had dropped to seven billion. 

In a letter addressed to customers the company said it is facing "huge financial pressure" and last year lost £419million and that, without "urgent reform" there is a risk that the one-price-goes-anywhere Universal Service, the legal requirement for Royal Mail to deliver to the UK’s 32 million addresses six days a week, will not be able to survive.

Proposals include changes to non-First Class letter deliveries with Second Class and bulk business mail moving to every other weekday. 

East Anglian Daily Times: Proposals include changes to non-First Class letter deliveriesProposals include changes to non-First Class letter deliveries (Image: Newsquest)

Royal Mail said it would like to add tracking to Universal Service parcels to reflect customer demand.

It also said, due to the importance of NHS letters, they would work alongside the NHS to explore options that would provide more reliability for time-sensitive medical letters.

Toby Warren, head of policy at Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, said: "Businesses are increasingly using electronic communication but there is still a need for a reliable Royal Mail post service for certain documents.

"Also, the continued growth of online commerce means there is a still a need for a reliable Royal Mail parcel service.

East Anglian Daily Times: Toby Warren, head of policy at Suffolk Chamber of CommerceToby Warren, head of policy at Suffolk Chamber of Commerce (Image: Nicky West Photography)

"If Ofcom allows Royal Mail to reduce the number of delivery days for certain items, it must require Royal Mail to provide a more reliable service, with businesses and consumers getting the service they pay for."

A Royal Mail statement read: "With reform we would be able to invest in products and services we know you need and want. Services that will help you grow your business or stay connected to your loved ones.

"If we want to save the Universal Service, we have to change the Universal Service.

"We’re doing everything we can to transform so that we can serve you better. And now we need Ofcom, the regulator, to do their bit and implement the change."