Villagers' fury as gates row hits post service

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/n ... ticle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postal deliveries in a village are being delayed because of a row over access to a sorting office.

Police have been called out to try to sort out problems in Cosby twice this week.

Trouble flared after retired postmaster Bob Waterfield, 65, installed a pair of gates across the driveway of his house, in front of the sorting office, and gave a key to sub-postmaster Pravin Kotecha, 54.

However, Mr Kotecha gave the key to postmen to let themselves in and sort out the post – angering Mr Waterfield.

Mr Waterfield and his wife, Jean, 65, say they only want the manager or one nominated member of staff to be given the key.

They also say the noise being made by the postmen in the morning is "making their lives a misery".

Mr Waterfield, who ran the post office for more than 20 years, said: "There is so much banging and noise being made.

"It's just courtesy. The van doors are always slamming shut.

"The man who runs it is a really nice guy, but the Royal Mail staff must understand the area belongs to us and conduct themselves with respect at all times.

"If the boss isn't here in the morning, then he can't know what goes on and we're left holding the baby.

"When I was postmaster, I was out there when the staff arrived to sort the mail.

"My issue is with the Royal Mail staff and not the person who runs the post office.

"I just want to be given the name of a substitute, who will be given the key."

Mr Kotecha, 54, lives with his family in Belgrave.

"He says his contract states he must open the post office before 9am each day and provide access to the sorting office.

He said: "This whole thing is getting so frustrating. My contract says I am not obliged to attend the sorting office personally.

"The post was delayed by nearly two hours on Wednesday because the padlocks were on the gates again. I gave the key to my staff here who come in and sort the post in the mornings and I don't see anything wrong with it – it's not like I'm giving it out to random people."

Villager Bill Stevens, of Tudor Drive, called the situation "farcical".

He said: "The village all thinks this is stupid.

"We are all getting our mail late and the police have had to turn up and waste their time.

"For the guy to have to come in just to open a set of gates is farcical."

Ros Clarke, 57, of Brooklands Road, works from home and says the delays caused by the dispute are inconvenient.

She said: "This week, my post has been coming much later than normal.

"Why should everyone in Cosby suffer as a result of what's going on?"

A spokesman for Royal Mail said they were monitoring the dispute.

Police confirmed officers were called to a row between two men, at 7.06am on Monday, and again to an incident at 7.02am on Wednesday over a civil matter, for which no one was arrested.

[smarterdarter]

With us its personal

[DGP1]

All that's going to happen is RM will move the office into one of the bigger ones in the area Mr Waterfield will then be left with a building that he can do nothing with and has the potential to best left vacant until the lease runs out (unless he wants to sell up to some property developer and this is the only way he thinks he can get ris of a tennant).

[NWpostie]

Just close the sub office and make the Ex Postmaster come down to the nearest town and collect his mail, imagine the stares of the Villagers, in the street and on the bus he will have to endure

the fact is the mail work had to be done and it will involves some noise, you can't make an ormellete without breaking an egg.

He is just being a grumpy old git.

[johnsouthwales]

tell umm not to make a noise innit..his property r.e.s.p.e.c.t

and if they're going to make a noise, make it quietly lol

[NWpostie]

looked it up on google maps

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=11-13%2 ... =en&tab=wl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


storm in a teacup, also read the comments on the link given, apparently the villagers are angry with this guy, they are also asking a valid question, he has worked there for many years and wants to put a gate across, what is his real issue, so far he hasn't come up with one.

[johnsouthwales]

dam..no streetview lol. retirement blues by the sounds