|
|
Article: A check on the mail; Commanding heights (1).(The postman may only ring twice a week)(Royal Mail)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- May 17, 2008
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Alamy
Royal Mail struggles to compete in a liberalised market
A MORE remote part of Britain would be hard to find than the small Shetland island of Foula. With a population of 30, it lies across 17 miles of angry Atlantic Ocean from its nearest neighbour. Getting to it is not easy. One can catch a ferry (assuming the waves are not too high) or take a plane, if the wind isn't too harsh.
Delivering mail regularly to the 21 addresses on the island is as difficult. Although the island is one of a handful that do not get post delivered six times a week (by special exemption, its mail comes only three times a week, usually when the ferry is running), ...