Post boxes overflow with Christmas mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/874 ... tmas_mail/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ROYAL Mail has come under fire for failing to keep on top of people’s post during its busiest day of the year.

A number of postboxes across the borough were left overflowing with Christmas mail on Monday, December 13, with items spilling out on to the roadside.

Despite increasing its collections to cope with the festive demand, Royal Mail has been accused of putting people’s post at risk.

Residents also complained of not being able to send cards and letters as staff struggled to clear the backlog.

Stan Parry, aged 75, of Beech Way, Winklebury, Basingstoke, said two postboxes near him were full on Monday morning.

The former postman, who became an inspector at the Basingstoke sorting office, said one was on Elmwood Way and another, a large pillar box, was on Watson Way. He said the Watson Way box was full at 11am and was not due to be emptied until 5pm.

Mr Parry told The Gazette: “You could put your hand inside and take the mail. I worked for Royal Mail for 41 years and we used to put on extra collections in the run-up to Christmas.

“Somebody needs to kick some backsides and get these boxes emptied more regularly. In the old days we would not have tolerated it.”

Meanwhile, Geoffrey Smith, of Cromwell Close, Old Basing, said a box in Belle Vue Road was also overflowing with mail.

The 70-year-old said: “It was coming out on to the road. It’s pathetic and very wrong. I tried ringing the post office to tell them they were responsible for every single letter inside the box, but I couldn’t get through."

Mr Smith, who is retired, said when he worked as a postman “many years ago”, boxes were emptied every two hours in the run-up to Christmas.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Monday was predicted to be our busiest day of the year and a massive amount of mail was posted in the area.

“We were expecting the seasonal increase and have introduced extra collections to help us handle the massive amount of mail posted in the run-up to Christmas.”

She added that, as part of a £2billion modernisation programme, residents will see fewer postal workers on bicycles but it remains committed to reducing carbon emissions by 34 per cent come 2015.

“It is certainly not a straightforward switch to vans for those postmen and women who currently use bicycles.

“We will not be getting rid of all bicycles and they will remain part of our delivery operation nationally, with decisions taken locally.”

She added that Royal Mail is delivering fewer letters and more packages, and reducing the number of bikes will lower accident rates and take the weight off staff’s backs.

[Stormproof]

Why do people keep putting mail in the box when they can see its full
The boxes arn't emptied on a regular basis because the collection staff have'nt got any vans, they are still being used for us out on deliveries. Its not just a christmas problem.

[brunswick]

post boxes in or around towns are emptied more than once a day, plates now only show last collection time,some busy boxes are indeed emptied 3 or 4 times. sunday and bank holiday collections are however only done when deemed appropriate by senior management, collection drivers struggle this time of year particularly this year causing delivery drivers to have to catch up with the backlog caused by the bad weather conditions,so vans not getting back for collections

[Godric]

Why do people keep putting mail in the box when they can see its full
The boxes arn't emptied on a regular basis because the collection staff have'nt got any vans, they are still being used for us out on deliveries. Its not just a christmas problem.

why do people allow their dogs to piss against a pillar box whilst a postman is trying to empty it ... manky bassas how would they like it if we pulled out our d1cks and pissed on them

[DGP1]

Why do people keep putting mail in the box when they can see its full
The boxes arn't emptied on a regular basis because the collection staff have'nt got any vans, they are still being used for us out on deliveries. Its not just a christmas problem.

why do people allow their dogs to piss against a pillar box whilst a postman is trying to empty it ... manky bassas how would they like it if we pulled out our d1cks and pissed on them

The magistrate told me that I'm not allowed to do that anymore

[Pompey Boy]

Ho Ho Ho!!!

Same thing in Pompey with boxes overflowing. Why, because deliveries aint doing lunchtime collections, monday reliefs withdrawn, both only to be replaced with ad-hoc help to late turn drivers - NIGHTMARE . Worst I can remember in my 10+ years. Don't mention TSO's either