ROYAL Mail has announced sweeping changes to postal deliveries in the Huddersfield area.
And it could mean some people not getting their morning mail until lunchtime.
From Monday, people living in the area served by the Scissett postal office will receive a single daily delivery, says Royal Mail.
And over the next couple of months deliveries in Holmfirth (HD9), Huddersfield (HD1 to 5 and HD8) and Slaithwaite (HD7) will all have one drop through the letterbox.
The move, part of a national programme to introduce single daily deliveries, is part of a cost- cutting drive by Royal Mail.
But Royston Rogers, immediate past president of Holme Valley Business Association and vice-president of West Yorkshire Chamber of Trade and Commerce, accused Royal Mail of "putting another nail in their own coffin".
He said: "The morning mail is crucial. If orders don't come in until lunchtime, how can businesses get them out the same day?"
Peter Burton, senior policy adviser for Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and former honorary secretary of the Calderdale Post Office Advisory Committee, said people wanted their mail by 9am.
"This is going to be a serious inconvenience," he said.
"Many people work from home and they want to deal with their customers immediately, not when half the day has gone. The whole thing is very unsatisfactory," he said.
Mr Burton said the matter would be discussed by Kirklees chamber members at a meeting on Thursday, January 15.
Royal Mail said most post would be delivered well before lunchtime as part of the single daily delivery system.
And it pointed out that for some customers there would be little or no change to their current delivery times.
Royal Mail says no compulsory redundancies are planned as part of the single delivery changes and the changes at Scissett would not result in a reduction of jobs.
