'My stairs are safe for post'

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/n ... 3960800.jp

By John Edwrads


ONE man's battle to get his mail delivered to his home has taken a step forward.
In February, the Free Press reported that postmen would no longer take letters to John Slater's flat in Sands Lane, Bridlington, because it meant climbing a staircase which they said was dangerous.

Now, at a cost of more than £200, a engineer has carried out a detailed structural inspection of the stairs and insists they are perfectly safe.

Of course, Mr Slater had to go to the delivery office in Quay Road to pick up the report which was posted to him, just like he does with all of his mail.

The report stated: "On the bases of our inspection and our subsequent structural checks, we have no cause to be concerned over the structural integrity of the stairs and therefore our conclusions are that the stairs are safe to use.

"The staircase structure has been modified over time and its structural support enhanced by the addition of support posts.

"Some corrosion of steelwork was noted, however, the degree of degradation is not considered to ma
terially affect the structural integrity of the current arrangements."

Mr Slater is now waiting to hear if the report will convince the Royal Mail to restart deliveries to his first-floor letterbox.

[pinstripe]

He'd of been better off spending his £200 on getting his stairs fixed. Hire a builder, pay him £200, he fixes your stairs and the problem goes away. Just because an structural engineer says they're ok doesn't mean that they're ok in rain or snow, or high winds. I don't expect them to collapse, but if there are loose steps or railings they are dangerous, but would a structural engineer say it was unsafe or merely that care should be taken. It's like saying it's safe to cross a motorway, but neglecting to say but only if you're in a tank!

[dvbuk55]

£20 would have bought him a steel letterbox with a nice logo, a key and all he would have to do is walk down and backup the oh so safe stairway every day.

There must be a shed load of posties who've experienced these cheapo stairs to upstairs flats that some penny pinching landlords install - look fine but covered in slime or in winter snow and ice are an accident waiting to happen. In fact a postwoman at our office was coming down a flight of stone steps in autumn, the steps were covered in wet leaves and she fell backwards and came down the steps on her back. At the end of the day she had to retire through ill health.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I have to say looking at it zoomed in the structural safety looks ok but underfoot looks well dodgy.

The steps bend in and are covered in slime. On the top step you can stalactites of slime forming.

They also look they have never been cleaned -





Anyway more important things - Someone tell Del Boy and Rodders that we have found Uncle Albert

[dvbuk55]

Anyway more important things - Someone tell Del Boy and Rodders that we have found Uncle Albert

I thought he was Captain Birdseye.

[DirtyHarry]

I think he's bonkers.

[coaster]

£20 would have bought him a steel letterbox with a nice logo, a key and all he would have to do is walk down and backup the oh so safe stairway every day.

Could the structural engineer now be sued if anyone slips in the future?

edit: Original Story

http://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/t ... 3796154.jp

[andy2007]

£20 would have bought him a steel letterbox with a nice logo, a key and all he would have to do is walk down and backup the oh so safe stairway every day.

Could the structural engineer now be sued if anyone slips in the future?

edit: Original Story

http://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/t ... 3796154.jp

I can't say for certain. But I would expect you to be able to sue a Structural Engineer, if he/she has specifically stated that a structure is safe to use, and someone has an accident.

[baldrick]

I would have thought that only the person who paid him to make a report would be
able to sue him, not anyone else (postie) who might slip on the stairs.

[DGP1]

I would have thought that only the person who paid him to make a report would be
able to sue him, not anyone else (postie) who might slip on the stairs.

I'd agree with you but you still sue the owner of the stairs then he sues whoever said they were safe now I'm starting to confuse myself

[DB1100]

They are probably only the top ones of a flight of 50,they look like a death trap to me

[k979aaa]

They are probably only the top ones of a flight of 50,they look like a death trap to me

I he look's like buster merryfield he's probably perched a top of a lighthouse all that bird sh*t , wind , sea salt , and hot air of his winngin maybe he should try doing our job for a day and deliver to his own house / lighthouse!.

[alangate]

They are probably only the top ones of a flight of 50,they look like a death trap to me

He needs to put a mailbox on the wall at the bottom of the steps,those steps don,t look at all safe.

Ask for a risk assessment to be carried out .

[Stormproof]

Published Date: 20 April 2008
Source: Bridlington Free Press
Location: Bridlington
http://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/n ... 3986297.jp

FLAT dweller John Slater is still trying to get Royal Mail to deliver his post to his front door.
He spent more than £200 of his own money to have a structural engineer look over the metal stairway to his first floor home in Sands Lane, Bridlington, after the post office said it was unsafe and postmen were not prepared to use it for health and safety reasons.

Having presented the head post office in Quay Road with the engineering report which gives the stairs a clean bill of health he has still not had his mail delivered and has to collect it from the post office.

"I don't know how they can just take decisions like that, the next thing you know they will stop delivering mail to people with green front doors because they don't like the colour," said Mr Slater.

He intends to send Royal Mail a bill for the costof the report and said if they continued not to deliver his mail he would seek compensation.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Mr Slater delivered the structural report to Bridlington delivery office on Monday afternoon. The delivery office manager was not available to see him or read the report at the time but he will contact Mr Slater with a view to resolving the situation as soon as possible."



This bloke is'nt going to let this drop, he obviously has'nt got anything better to do with his time or money

[DB1100]

Published Date: 20 April 2008
Source: Bridlington Free Press
Location: Bridlington
http://www.bridlingtonfreepress.co.uk/n ... 3986297.jp

FLAT dweller John Slater is still trying to get Royal Mail to deliver his post to his front door.
He spent more than £200 of his own money to have a structural engineer look over the metal stairway to his first floor home in Sands Lane, Bridlington, after the post office said it was unsafe and postmen were not prepared to use it for health and safety reasons.

Having presented the head post office in Quay Road with the engineering report which gives the stairs a clean bill of health he has still not had his mail delivered and has to collect it from the post office.

"I don't know how they can just take decisions like that, the next thing you know they will stop delivering mail to people with green front doors because they don't like the colour," said Mr Slater.

He intends to send Royal Mail a bill for the costof the report and said if they continued not to deliver his mail he would seek compensation.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Mr Slater delivered the structural report to Bridlington delivery office on Monday afternoon. The delivery office manager was not available to see him or read the report at the time but he will contact Mr Slater with a view to resolving the situation as soon as possible."



This bloke is'nt going to let this drop, he obviously has'nt got anything better to do with his time or money

There are some very strange and obsessive people behind the lace curtains of suburbia