Post box return ruled out

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AN elderly couple have spoken of their frustration that Royal Mail has not re-instated a postbox outside their house, four months after they first complained.

William Bradshaw, 95, and his wife, Joan, 86, of Church Street, Norton, lost the postbox outside their house in when the post office closed in March last year.

Last November the Royal Mail said it would investigate the possibility of reinstating the box. It has now decided not to restore the facility.

Mr Bradshaw, who used to work on the railways and in the RAF, said: “The post office took the box out because it said it was inconvenient for people to park near it.

“I don’t understand it, because the other one in Settrington Road is a main road, just the same. The problem is, there are a lot of older people round here, and it has made it very inconvenient for them.

“I’m still having to get a taxi every time I want to get my pension from the post office, and sometimes when I want to post a letter. I have a carer who will post them for me sometimes, but not everyone has that luxury.

“Having a postbox nearby is something you ought to be able to take for granted.”

Mr Bradshaw said although Royal Mail said it would consider installing a box in Commercial Street, he was disheartened because nothing has happened.

Norton councillor Howard Keal said: “Royal Mail is showing utter indifference to the wishes and needs of its customers. Shoppers, business people and residents all want the post box back.

“When I raised the issue with Royal Mail it agreed to look at restoring the post box, which was interpreted in some quarters as a victory.

“Sadly, I’m now being told by an area manager that they won’t budge.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We have thoroughly investigated possible new locations for a postbox in the vicinity of Church Street and none are suitable, either because it would be too close to an existing box or because of health and safety reasons.

“We have also reviewed postbox usage and the locations of alternative boxes in the area and this has confirmed that the density of postboxes is well within guidelines.”