Posted by 
A parcel delivery nightmare before Christmas has led Ribble Valley MP Maya Ellis to call on delivery firm Evri for answers.
Residents of Ribchester and Longridge have voiced their frustration in large numbers over the past week as parcels have repeatedly gone missing and undelivered.
With batches of parcels found dumped by Evri drivers in random locations around the village and surrounding areas, anger has spilled over online, with some suggesting that a central parcel delivery hub might be the best solution.
Read more: Preston On Ice changes made as businesses praise Preston City Council response
Local beef and sheep farmer, Peter Briggs, found several parcels strewn around Stoneygate Lane while out checking his livestock on his quad bike, while a large batch of deliveries was found dumped behind a wall on Jeffrey Hill, near Longridge.
One person has even listed a large number of names having taken a bulk order of parcels from a driver.
The pre-Christmas chaos has led Ribble Valley Labour MP Maya Ellis to write to the boss of delivery firm Evri demanding answers and assurances.
In the letter to Evri chief executive Martijn de Lange, she said: “With less than two weeks to go before Christmas, I’m concerned about issues with deliveries made by Evri in my constituency. Lost parcels, post arriving much later than expected, and even goods left in the wrong locations seem to be becoming the norm.
“I’ve heard of delivery problems affecting small businesses, many of which will now fear their customers going elsewhere due to frustrations with delayed orders.
“Then there are those fearful of Christmas gifts arriving too late or not at all, leaving them with the inconvenience of chasing refunds or arranging replacements.
“I know how hard your teams will be working under the extra Christmas strain but where delivery times are advertised, these should be upheld.
“I seek reassurances that you will investigate my concerns, and those of other MPs, promptly and that urgent measures will be put in place to address these immediate issues and to manage any backlog.”
A spokesperson for Evri said: “We’re currently delivering around four million parcels a day at our busiest time of the year. Every parcel matters to us, and we’re working hard to ensure that customers in Preston receive their parcels.
“The vast majority of our 30,000 couriers are hardworking members of the local community and take pride in their work. We are committed to instilling a culture in which our people care for parcels in the way they would care for their own. “
Support Blog Preston: Keep our community reporting going and view the website without any adverts too. Sign up for a membership today.
Stay updated: Keep in touch directly with the latest headlines from Blog Preston, join our WhatsApp channel and subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter. Both free and direct to your phone and inbox. Help us report too, by contacting us if you see something we should be reporting on.
Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines
