A call has gone out today to the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) to put its massive weight behind York business leaders' protests against late postal deliveries.

Len Cruddas, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, wants the national Chamber, with its 135,000 members, to prevent Royal Mail's new system - cutting two daily deliveries to one - being rolled out from York to the rest of the nation.

Businesses are objecting to the disruption, complaining that mail which used to be opened before 9am was not reaching some of the firms until as late as 1pm. Among them are banks, lawyers, accountants, financial advisers, and organisations which rely heavily on mail order, as well as small businesses and people working from home.

Mr Cruddas has written to the BCC warning that the plan which has begun with York and other chosen cities like Edinburgh could soon seriously hamper enterprise throughout the country. He is concerned that Royal Mail intends to steamroller its cost-cutting plans in spite of all opposition.

His fear is based on the revelation by Bill Furness, chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, that the delivery cuts introduced in three postcode areas there last autumn are still in place despite huge objections from Edinburgh business bosses.

Mr Furness said: "It simply didn't work in Edinburgh. Businesses protested that late deliveries were badly affecting them but Royal Mail carried on. Royal Mail told us they had 'teething problems' Yet months later I still get one delivery at about 11 am and our offices are right in the city centre."

A spokesman for Royal Mail Mid-Yorkshire said today: "I cannot comment on another Royal Mail patch. We are concerned about York, and the meeting this Friday."

Mr Cruddas said: "This determination to stick with a system that is damaging our competitiveness is worrying. I can understand that Royal Mail wants to cut its deliveries from two to one to save money, but why cut the early morning delivery? Why not the late delivery?"

Royal Mail area general manager Andy Lamb has agreed to talk to invited business bosses at a crucial meeting at York's Mansion House on Friday - a meeting organised by Gerry Gray, of Grosvenor Financial Consultants and Adam Sinclair, owner of Mulberry Hall and chairman of the York Chamber of Trade; and backed by York's MP Hugh Bayley as well as the Yorkshire regional CBI.

Updated: 09:55 Monday, February 09, 2004