SDLP councillor Pat Catney has criticised Royal Mail for charging a Lisburn family over £60 to redirect mail to a new address within the city, particularly as the family includes a disabled son reliant on disability allowance and medical letters. The complaint arises amid confirmed postal delays in Lisburn and Banbridge due to staff sickness and resource pressures.

The redirection service costs £41 for the first named person and £10 for each additional name for three months. Councillor Catney told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the charges are unacceptable given the ongoing delays, urging Royal Mail to waive fees when basic delivery service is failing.

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council approved a motion by DUP Alderman Allan Ewart for an urgent meeting with Royal Mail to address weeks of delays causing medical and financial distress to residents.

A Royal Mail spokesperson stated that redirection is a longstanding paid service, with no free option available, though a reduced-price concessionary service exists for Universal Credit or Pension Credit recipients. The company reported 80.3% next-day First Class delivery in the BT postcode area, in line with national figures of 77.5%, with delays described as short-term and localised.

Royal Mail advised affected customers to contact their local delivery office for investigation. Past criticisms include a 74% price increase since 2012, prompting calls from Citizens Advice for more affordable services.