Location of Rostrevor to Kilkeel post box causes anger

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The site of a new post box on the main Kilkeel to Rostrevor Road must be reviewed as a matter of urgency the SDLP’s Sean Rogers has warned.

The South Down Assembly candidate said he had raised the issue of the new post box close to the Glenloughan Road after he had been contacted by concerned local residents.

“After examining the location I have to say that, like the local community, I am very worried about the motive behind placing such an important facility at what is a very dangerous location,” he told Newry Times.

Rogers said he found it “incredible” that Transport NI as part of its analysis of the area’s new post box site had appeared not to have taken local knowledge into its final decision making process.

“Both the residents that have to use the post box as well as the Royal Mail staff are being forced to take their lives in their hands every time they want to use what is a vital part of daily life.

“For example when a Post Office employee has to collect mail from the box their vehicle has to park on a corner. The result is an inevitable obstruction to traffic and people using the road.

“In addition if a vehicle is exiting from the Glenloughan Road their view of oncoming traffic will automatically be blocked by the parked Royal Mail van. This is an unacceptable hazard and one that cannot be justified in terms of basic road safety,” Rogers warned.

He added, “The traffic vehicle rise considerably during the busy tourism linked summer months. Obviously that means that the traffic numbers on such a busy stretch of road will make the new post box an even greater risk.”

Mid April 2016The South Down MLA said he accepted as part of a commitment by Royal Mail to providing better facilities for rural communities it was rolling out around 300 new postal box locations.

“I have however pointed out to the Royal Mail that in the opinion of local people, who obviously have a much greater knowledge of the area, that in this instance the Glenloughan Road site is simply inappropriate in terms of safety.

He added, “This is not a case of people living close to the new facility not wanting disruption caused to their daily routine. The fears and reservations that have been voice are based on sound local knowledge and must be taken into consideration as part of an overall review of the situation.”