Relocated Benfleet postbox sparks parking chaos

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A POSTbox that had to be moved is causing parking chaos, residents have claimed.

Royal Mail was forced to remove a postbox from a small shopping parade in Benfleet High Road, near Church Corner, before Christmas after the landowner called for it to be relocated.

It was moved to the corner of the High Road and St Mary’s Close, which is a dead-end street.

Residents from St Mary’s Close have since complained to long-serving Benfleet councillor Alf Partridge about the new location.

They claim drivers who want to post cards and letters keep parking outside their homes, as there are very few parking spaces in the nearby High Road.

Mr Partridge said: “Residents are up in arms because people who want to use the postbox are parking their cars in that little street.

“That’s causing serious parking problems and it’s also difficult for vehicles to turn around and get back on to the High Road. A three-point turn can take six manoeuvres because St Mary’s Close is very narrow.

“My personal feeling is it’s a little bit silly putting it on the corner of a dead end street.

“It could have gone a bit further down the High Road, by a layby outside the church, where parking is allowed.”

Royal Mail spokesman Nick Martens insisted the box had been moved as quickly as possible to somewhere as convenient as possible for people.

He said “The postbox was moved from its original location in the High Road, as it was on private land and we were asked to remove it by the property owner.

“The replacement box has been placed as near as possible to the previous site.”