Post box closed because it is too low

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... o-low.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A quirky post box in Hampstead has been closed for health and safety reasons after postmen reported injuring their backs stooping down to pick up mailbags.

Royal Mail decided to close down the letter box after one worker was off sick with a bad back for four months after continually having to bend down to pick up the letters and parcels.

A notice apologising to residents in the area - which include comedian Russell Brand, ex-Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher and actors Hugh Grant and Kate Winslet - states that it the post box has been sealed for 'health and safety reasons'.

It states: "This pillar box has been closed due to Health and Safety issues."

One worker at the post office said at least three postal workers had injured their backs stooping to pick up the three sacks-worth of mail from the post box, which is about 2ft lower than normal post boxes.

He said: "Lots of postmen complain about this letter box as it is so low.

"You really have to bend down or kneel to get to the mail and this puts pressure on your back.

"One of the postmen took four months off sick after hurting his back constantly picking up the mail from this letter box."

Hampstead councillor Chris Knight said the decision to close the post box - which thousands of people rely on - was 'utterly stupid'.

He said: "It is ridiculous - utterly stupid.

"It has been there for so long why would you suddenly need to change it for health and safety reasons?

"What on earth are people thinking about - the world has gone mad.

"We are in the middle of a recession with cuts all over the place and here they are, sealing up a letter box."

Local Samantha Rochester, 32, said: "This post box has been here for decades and nobody has ever complained about it before.

"Posties are always stooping down to put letters through hundreds of people's letterboxes, so you thought they would be used to it by now."

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "We would like to apologise to any customers affected by the closure of this post box."

[Lounge Lizard]

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "We would like to apologise to any customers affected by the closure of this post box." and no suggestion of its replacement with one of an appropriate height ?

[Thorby Bislam]

Local Samantha Rochester, 32, said: "This post box has been here for decades and nobody has ever complained about it before.

"Posties are always stooping down to put letters through hundreds of people's letterboxes, so you thought they would be used to it by now."

Selfish, uncaring bitch. I hope your postie leaves your gate open and spits on your flowerbed.

[brothermagrew]

Workplace Safety.jpg

God bless em!

[beanmuncha]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ds-newsxml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; this shows you a photo in the daily mail

[Lounge Lizard]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ds-newsxml this shows you a photo in the daily mail

If it's in the Daily Mail I don't believe it.

[smokerjim]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ds-newsxml this shows you a photo in the daily mail

Look at some of the comments - all those in favour of our H&S have got bad ratings ( including one from NI that points out that in most of Europe it is illegal to have letter boxes lower than 1m from the ground ). Can someone explain to me how the other correspondants are allowed the vote ( isn't insanity an exclusion ) ?