Post Office refuses to lift mail delivery ban

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A PENSIONER defended her doggie best friend after the Royal Mail refused to lift an eight month delivery embargo on her neighbourhood.


Deliveries to 40 addresses in Kinver Walk and Elizabeth Walk in Katesgrove were suspended in April after a postman was attacked by mongrel Murphy, with neighbours left to walk to the nearly Whitley Street Post Office to collect their own mail.

The row heated up on Wednesday last week when the store said there was so much post it would no longer accept it and said customers will have to trek across town to the Loverock Road sorting office in west Reading if they want their mail.

But 75-year-old stroke victim Valerie Norris, of Elizabeth Walk, insists the original incident was a misunderstanding because 14-year-old Murphy was excited by the postman waving letters in the air. She refuses to rehome him even though her daughter now has to collect her mail.

She said: “He didn’t really attack him, he bit him on the trousers. He is so old now he will not be biting anyone. It is ridiculous.
“I live on my own and he’s my best friend since my husband Keith died. Anyway, he’s never out nowadays because I want him here with me in case I get attacked.”

When the Midweek visited Mrs Norris, Murphy was docile and very friendly.

Gary Ray, a 49-year-old chef from Kinver Walk, agreed that Murphy is never seen out these days and said: “It is pathetic, really pathetic. It has gone beyond a joke - some of the people here can’t even walk to the shops let alone try and get to the sorting office to pick up their letters.”

But Royal Mail spokesman Mike Norman is adamant that until the company is satisfied Murphy is under control the delivery ban remains.
He added: “We sincerely apologise to customers who continue to be impacted by this suspension for the inconvenience caused. But we must be satisfied that our colleagues are able to safely deliver mail before we can reinstate deliveries.”