Residents in post box protest

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http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/la ... rotest.php

WHILE villagers across the country are protesting to save their local post offices, a community near Bradford on Avon is desperately trying to save its characteristic post box.

The hamlet of Avoncliff has had a post box mounted within a traditional dry stone wall bordering The Mad Hatter tearooms for as long as anyone can remember.

But the residents have been told it is no longer Royal Mail policy to have the boxes on private property and it was replaced with an uncharacteristic modern one instead.

The neighbours are outraged that a part of Avoncliff's history should be taken away without their consultation but despite having written to their local delivery office to complain they have so far received no reply.

Kathy Miller, 59, said: "Sadly the hamlet of Avoncliff is becoming overwhelmed with modern signs and notices and the unique wall-mounted post box is a reminder of times gone by.

"In this modern age where everything seems to be disposable, surely we should think again about replacing the original post box, which we assume is still perfectly serviceable."
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The original post box was temporarily removed when the dry stone wall partially collapsed and needed re-building.

The owners of The Mad Hatter tearooms, who own the wall, told Royal Mail they were happy for it to be replaced in the wall.

Amirah Omran, 23, who owns the tearooms with her 36-year-old partner Richard Young, said: "We would quite like to have it back so we offered to help Royal Mail put it back in the wall.

"When we contacted them we were told it was against their policy to put it on a private property.

"Time is running out now because we have almost finished rebuilding the wall."

Neighbour Freda Ferne said: "Everyone got a letter when it was temporarily removed saying it would be restored as soon as possible.

"Now people are quite miffed - it's another one of those little features gone. It's not the end of the world but it's chipping away at the things that make a place different and special."

She added that she was also annoyed that no one had even acknowledged her letter of complaint, which she sent at the beginning of March.

A spokesman for Royal Mail apologised for the lack of response from the local delivery office manager and said an area manager would meet residents in person.

He said the old post box was found to be rusty and could not be put back in so a new lamp pedestal box was installed, as they no longer make replacements.

He added that if residents wanted to, they could purchase a replacement box like the old one and Royal Mail would install it as long as it was secure and operational.

11:39am today