LTB 138/23 - CWU Low Level Letterbox Campaign
No. 138/2023
1 June 2023
Our Ref: C32/23
To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues,
CWU Low Level Letterbox Campaign:
This is an update further to LTB 058/2023, dated 9 March 2023.
Public Consultation on Reforms to National Planning Policy:
As detailed in LTB 058/23 the Health, Safety and Environment Department submitted a formal response to the Government Public Consultation on ‘The Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill’ specifically in relation to proposed reforms to the ‘National Planning Policy Framework’ which forms a section of the Bill. The Bill’s primary intention is to allow government to swiftly deliver its commitment to building 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s but included in the framework is the review of the infrastructure which mandates new developments to meet clear design standards amongst other things. As the Public Consultation deals with a review and revision of the planning and building regulations, a response to the Consultation was made by the CWU Health, Safety and Environment Department concentrating on our long established policy of enshrining a ‘minimum’ height for letterboxes and ‘banning all low level letter boxes’ in new homes and developments.
House of Lords:
With the ‘The Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill’ currently being considered and debated in the House of Lords, at the Committee Stage, the Health, Safety and Environment Department, engaged in dialogue with Baroness Angela Smith of Basildon, Leader of the opposition for Labour in the House of Lords and Baroness Susan Hayman of Ullock. Amendment, number 476 to the Bill was subsequently tabled proposing a minimum letterbox height in law, in line with CWU policy and the EU Standard. On 22 May, Amendment 476 came up for debate and received cross-party support. The government minister in the House of Lords Baroness Scott of Bybrook, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) responded favourably, quote; “It is important to ensure that doors in homes include letterboxes at a height that does not cause injury, risk or inconvenience.We intend to include the recommended height for letterboxes in revised statutory guidance.”
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Following the government commitment given on 22 May in the House of Lords, the Health Safety & Environment Department has written to Lee Rowley MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Local Government and Building Safety) at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, asking when in fact are the government going to deliver on the recent commitment given in the House of Lords and importantly the commitment given in the House of Commons on Wednesday 16 January 2019, four and a half years ago, to review the building regulations statutory guidance on the position of letterboxes, to ensure that doors in homes include letterboxes at a height that does not cause injury, risk or inconvenience, as it’s been a very long time coming. This would benefit the health and wellbeing of CWU’s Royal Mail 90,000 Outdoor Delivery Members, Postmen and Postwomen across the UK. We have also written to Baroness Scott of Bybrook, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the House of Lords and to Lisa Nandy Labour’s Shadow Minister. A copy of the letter to the Minister Lee Rowley is attached.
UK Devolved Administrations:
As previously advised, we have additionally approached the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the matter of legislating on the introduction of a minimum letterbox height, in line with CWU policy and have received positive initial replies which we are following up.
Victory for CWU Low Level Letterbox Campaign with a New Build Homes Development in Telford:
Whilst we campaign for a UK wide government ban on low level letterboxes, the Health, Safety & Environment Department continues to challenge developers, house builders and local authorities when new housing developments with low level letterboxes are brought to our attention. Many successes have been achieved but it’s an uphill battle without statutory requirements in place to convince developers to comply with the EU Standard. However, with the support of the Labour Council Leader and Deputy Leader of Telford and Wrekin Council, Wrekin Housing Group were persuaded to fund the installation of ‘Wall-Mounted Letter Boxes’ at an improved height, on a new development with 88 new houses at Overdale in Telford I’m pleased to report.
Local Government Association:
We have requested, via an approach to the Senior Vice-Chair of the LGA that the matter be raised with the Local Government Association (LGA) which is made up of 317 English councils and the 22 Welsh councils through the Welsh Local Government Association. Part of its role is to influence and set the political agenda on the issues that matter to councils so they are able to deliver local solutions to national problems and planning is one area covered. We hope that some further progress and support can be achieved via this channel.
Conclusion:
The CWU Health, Safety & Environment Department will continue its campaign towards one day seeing the regulatory change we have been promised by the government which everyone appears to support but no one has yet delivered! We will keep Branches updated.
Attachment:
https://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... ous....pdf
https://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/ ... -Flier.pdf
Copy of letter to Lee Rowley MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Local Government and Building Safety) at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
#Mind your backs.
