RM stamp their authority and will not replace stolen box

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Royal Mail stamp their authority and will not replace stolen postbox

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DOUBT has been cast over Royal Mail's claim that there are postboxes located within half a mile of 98 per cent of homes.

SDLP Councillor Declan McAteer said that he finds this information "hard to believe" and added that this may not be the case in the rural area between Rathfriland and Newry, given the fact Royal Mail have recently confirmed that there are currently no plans to replace the stolen postbox on the Finnard Road.

However, Royal Mail have responded by saying that there are "sufficient posting facilities in this area" and a replacement postbox is not warranted.

Councillor McAteer said that the issue was brought to his attention by a constituent who had highlighted the fact that three postboxes have been stolen in as many years in that particular rural area. There are fears that further thefts in this rural area may result in the service becoming extinct.

“There have been at least three postboxes stolen over a period of time in this area," he said.

“People are afraid that it will turn into another rural service which will be removed if these thefts continue.

“I don't know how widespread this problem is around other council areas, but it is and will be the rural people who are suffering at the hands of vandals once again.

“I know the police cannot sit and watch postboxes all day long, but I would ask the public to be more vigilant. People are either stealing them to use or to sell on as decorations in their gardens," said Councillor McAteer.

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail said "thankfully, thefts of postboxes are relatively rare".

“We take the theft of postboxes very seriously and work closely with the police. Royal Mail has some 115,000 postboxes around the country and thankfully thefts of postboxes are relatively rare.

“The postbox at Finnard Road was last stolen in 2011. Royal Mail believes there are sufficient posting facilities in the area and there are currently no plans to replace this post box.

“Alternative posting facilities can be found at Bankside at Rathfriland Road, Orchard Bar, Rathfriland Road and Greenhill Crossroads, 90 Newry Road, Rathfriland, all of which comply with Ofcom guidelines," said Ms Bird, adding that in both rural and urban areas, the numbers of postboxes have remained stable for the past decade.

Since June last year, as part of Royal Mail's regulatory conditions from Ofcom, they must ensure there is a postbox within half a mile of at least 98 per cent of 'delivery points' (usually the letter box of an address) nationally.

They added that "Ofcom consider that we currently meet these requirements".

“For the remaining two per cent of delivery points, Royal Mail must provide sufficient postboxes or other means of access to the universal service (e.g. collection or delivery) to meet the reasonable needs of those users, having regard to the costs and operational practicalities of doing so," said Ms Bird.

[Lounge Lizard]

DOUBT has been cast over Royal Mail's claim that there are postboxes located within half a mile of 98 per cent of homes.
SDLP Councillor Declan McAteer said that he finds this information "hard to believe" and added that this may not be the case in the rural area between Rathfriland and Newry.



But SDLP Councillor Declan McAteer has yet to prove that the homes in the rural area between Rathfriland and Newry amount to more than 2% of homes in the area.

[NWpostie]

We had a post box repaired three times in a run down anti social area, one day they destroyed it by putting fire works in it, we stopped replacing and withdrew the box, it wasn't long before complaint were coming in about where to post their letters, most probably the same scums that wants their giro form sending off to the benefit offices. naturally we declined to replace it. if the community don't care, don't be too surprised if the boxes get withdrawn.