Residents campaigning for return of historic postbox

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RESIDENTS in Fordingbridge are angry that a historic postbox close to their homes may not be replaced after it was smashed in a high speed police chase.

The Royal Mail are “reviewing post box access” after the unit at Pressey’s Corner, which had been there since at least the reign of Queen Victoria, was smashed after a white van ploughed into the wall of Salisbury Arms Farm in the early hours of Sunday, May 27.

Farm owner Joyce Gould told the Journal she was woken up by the drama.

“I heard a loud bang, looked out of the window and saw several police cars outside the farm along the Fordingbridge Road. I saw a white van in my wall.

“A man ran across my yard and hid in one of the barns. Well of course the police found him.”

Now the well-used post box, which was used by a large elderly population, several businesses and was the closest to two holiday parks, is under review.

And residents say the nearest alternative is half a mile away along an unmade road.

Resident Chris Walker said: “Those of us that live within the near vicinity of Pressey’s Corner have just been informed that our postal collection box is not going to be replaced. This is of concern to a great number of local residents.


“The post collection box had stood there for well over 100 years without incident. Most of us that live on this corner and other regular users of this box would like it replaced.

“We have been told that because of the accident, it is deemed that it is in a dangerous location. We have to disagree due to the length of time this box has been in position and the highly exceptional circumstances that brought about its destruction.

“We have also been informed that box was considered as low-usage. We disagree with this as there is never a day that passes that we don’t have letters to post.

“I run a small business from home and my neighbour does the same. An agricultural and car repair business operates on the corner and this box serves two holiday caravan and camp sites.”

A local farmer has offered to repair the box and Mr Walker is keeping up the pressure to restore it to its place, emailing Royal Mail headquarters in London.

He said: “Our nearest box is now half a mile away, down an unmade road requiring those of us who have one to take a car to post letter that, previously, we could post within yards of our homes.

“Alderholt has a larger than average retired population – many with walking difficulties and no car resulting in hardship to many by the removal of this letter box.

“It is an indisputable fact that this box would still be operational was it was not for a single exceptional event.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “The postbox at Presseys Corner, Fordingbridge, was removed following a road traffic accident. We apologise for the inconvenience and we would ask customers to use the nearest postbox, sited on the junction with Station Road and Camel Green Road.

“We are currently reviewing access to posting facilities in the area."