PEOPLE receiving less than 20 letters a day will be forced to pay £14 a week if they want their post delivered before 9am, it was revealed this week.

The shock move, which will be piloted in 14 areas across Britain from Monday, has been greeted with disgust by residents and small businesses in Watford.

Those who do not pay the new charge will receive their single delivery by noon or can collect it from sorting offices.

Mr Roger Gagan, chief executive of the Watford and West Herts Chamber of Commerce, condemned the Royal Mail plan as "a blow to small businesses."

He said: "Fourteen pounds a week is a lot of extra money for small firms - that comes to more than £700 a year.

"This is introducing prices through the back door and it won't go down well with our members.

"They are being asked to pay a levy on top of what they are already paying.

"If you do pay the £14 a week and it doesn't come on time, what happens then?

"And how do you prove it hasn't come before 9am?

"Now if you pay first class and the mail doesn't come through, you don't go to the post office and get your tuppence back but it's different if you are paying £14 a week.

"It is an unnecessary burden on small businesses and there has been no time for consultation, which I think is rather unfair.

"This will be extremely unpopular."

July 11, 2002 13:00