Parcel Force rules roads are safe to deliver mail

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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ROYAL Mail is still refusing to deliver post to 12 unmade roads in Benfleet, even though Parcel Force has ruled that the roads are safe.

Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris called into question Royal Mail’s decision in a letter hand-delivered to residents late last week, and is supported by Parcel Force, which is part of the Royal Mail delivery group.

She said in the letter: “I am very pleased to report that Parcel Force, part of the Royal Mail group, have decided that it is in fact safe to deliver to most of the roads, despite the fact that Royal Mail’s main delivery service remains suspended.

“I have written again to the Chief Executive of Royal Mail, Mrs Moya Greene, asking for a comprehensive justification as to why the rest of your service cannot be restored in the face of Parcel Force’s decision.”

Resident Jacques Goubel, 67, of Windermere Road, said: “The decision does not make sense, does it? I can’t make sense of it. They’re both part of the same organisation, but one says it is safe and the other says it is not.”

In her letter Mrs Harris also revealed that Royal Mail is to conduct further risk assessments as a result of her questioning.

She wrote: “After a number of conversations with them regarding their risk assessment, they are undertaking a further, more in depth risk assessment of the condition of the roads this week.”

Mrs Harris also revealed that Phil Fay, manager of the Benfleet sorting office, had not responded to her attempts to contact him, and questioned whether Royal Mail’s decision complied with the Postal Services Act.

She concluded: “I know that this matter is a source of continuing stress and inconvenience to the many residents affected.

“I do feel however that I am making progress, and I assure you that I will continue to actively campaign on your behalf to persuade Royal mail to review their decision.

“I very much want you to receive the service I believe you are both entitled to and deserve.”

‘Why can’t they just walk?’

BRANDY Goubel, who lives on Windermere Road, one of the 12 unmade roads whose post has been cut off, has asked: ‘Why can’t the postman just park and walk?’

She said: “We’ve lived here for 36 years and for 30 of those years my husband and a few other men used to fix the road. We used to buy the tarmac from the council.

“My husband has had a kidney transplant now and I know one of the other men has troubles with his knees. They can’t do it anymore.”

Speaking about residents being made to collect their mail from the Benfleet delivery service, she said: “There’s no parking and there are clamping signs. Then you have to climb a lot of stairs. My husband can’t walk up there. It’s impossible for some of these people to get up there.

“I remember, years ago, that the postman used to deliver our mail by bicycle. He used to park at the end of the road and walk up one side, then walk back down the other. Why they can’t just do that, I don’t know.”

An e-mail sent to a Royal Mail spokesperson, asking why postmen could not park and walk, was not replied.

[not me]

BRANDY Goubel, who lives on Windermere Road, one of the 12 unmade roads whose post has been cut off, has asked: ‘Why can’t the postman just park and walk?’

She said: “We’ve lived here for 36 years and for 30 of those years my husband and a few other men used to fix the road. We used to buy the tarmac from the council.

“My husband has had a kidney transplant now and I know one of the other men has troubles with his knees. They can’t do it anymore.”

Speaking about residents being made to collect their mail from the Benfleet delivery service, she said: “There’s no parking and there are clamping signs. Then you have to climb a lot of stairs. My husband can’t walk up there. It’s impossible for some of these people to get up there.

“I remember, years ago, that the postman used to deliver our mail by bicycle. He used to park at the end of the road and walk up one side, then walk back down the other. Why they can’t just do that, I don’t know.”

so the road is in a state of disrepair?

[TeeferTiger]

From what I can gather from previous reports it's a private unmade road.

I don't think parcelfarce have a problem with delivering there because their vans are higher up, but our piddly shitty things can't manage it.

But I'm not sure why there's being such a commotion created about it. Why can't the council just adopt the bloody roads, tarmac them properly and then problem sorted. Is there not a Post Office or something that perhaps the post could be left at as maybe an interim until something is sorted to save them going to the D.O. if that would be more convenient for them (obviously with consent blah blah blah)?

I'm also not entirely sure why the postie is no longer allowed to walk down the road. I realise that it is unmade and might cause damage to vehicles, but I'm not sure why they've also deemed it unsafe to walk along?

[johnsouthwales]

bit daft rm saying they won't and PF say they will... very confusing indeed. could swear rm own PF lol

councils won't adopt roads cos it costs them money.. that is a fair point comparing a small van to a larger van as they are higher up.. but still could cause some wear and tear to the tyres and suspension now and then... oh and to the drivers spine of course and waist area.

[TeeferTiger]

Oh I know why the council won't adopt the road, but why can't they is what I'm getting at lol Rather than the residents tarmaccing (sp?) the road themselves, why don't they just petition the council or whatever to adopt the road?

[johnsouthwales]

hehe, that's what the council want residents to do. some residents adopt roads and tarmac it once, and in two years time it starts crumbling so they're back to square one. if they had a council tax rebate system where residents could be encouraged to adopt, maybe that'll help, but all residents have to agree to adopting and there's always going to be someone not agreeing for numerous reasons such as expense and liability.

then again, someone could adopt a road and it's perfect.. up comes along mr gas man and mr waterboard digging it up and doing a bad relay job so it'll deteriorate again. usually once it's lad it's ok, levelling it in the first place is the time consuming part, surveying, drainage etc. depending on the length of a road, a 50 metre stretch will cost around 5k to 10k. the reality is that if there are ten residents who all agree meaning £500 - £1000 each for a ten year lifespan meaning £50 - £100 a year council tax rebate. councils do not like spending money so may as well have had the council doing up the road in the first place lol

incidentally, soon as it becomes an adopted road, the refuse lorries could easily turn around and say they cannot collect rubbish anymore because it's a 'private road lol. and if there are any legal complications as these roads tend to have an enterance and an access, so as long as the contractor has a few million pounds worth of public liability insurance and does the job exactly to specifications and superb quality, there shouldn't be a problem.. then again, if the contractor retires or whatever in that timespan, is the road protected? residents tend to move in and out so a new tenant could just say stuff that, but a new resident won't have to pay anything because the road has already been paid for, and if one of the shareholders move, they have lost financially and they cannot sell the cost on, especially if the were tenants.

councils would love to rub their hands in glee in getting a road off thier hands like that.. a bit like flogging a dead horse if you ask me, and they can't wait for the first sucker to come along... council's are getting worse i tell thee