Residents in The Villas, Stoke, told to collect letters

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Residents in The Villas, Stoke, told to collect letters after Royal Mail deliveries halted by injuries to postmen

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ROYAL Mail is refusing to deliver to more than 100 residents – because their postmen keep tripping and injuring themselves.

Residents of The Villas, in Stoke, were sent letters informing them of the decision last week.

Now they must travel to the Stoke-Hanley Delivery Office, in Leek Road, to pick up all of their post.

Homeowners on the private road say that, despite having their mail delivered for 150 years, they were given no warning and are desperately trying to resolve the issue.

Around 40 households and 100 residents are said to have been affected.

Julian Wilshaw, aged 38, of The Villas, Stoke, who lives with his partner Sarah and daughter Jessica, said: “It came out of the blue. We had heard nothing at all about it and then the letter came through. We weren’t even warned or informed there was an issue, so we could maybe try to help put any issues right.

“Royal Mail deliver to the likes of the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides – we’re just The Villas, in Stoke.”

“My daughter has hip problems and we’re waiting on a letter from the hospital.

“I have sympathy for the postmen if they’ve hurt themselves, but we don’t know what the problem is, and Royal Mail have been delivering to us for years.

“It’s a massive inconvenience for all the residents, especially the more elderly people living here.”

Householders are part of a residents’ association with a fund for repairs.

They have asked Royal Mail to identify which areas need repairing but say it would cost tens of thousands of pounds to tarmac the entire stretch.

Martin Parker, aged 52, secretary of The Villas Residents’ Association, said: “The letter said one postman had injured themselves a month ago, and we were told it happened again a couple of days before the letter was sent.

“No-one had been consulted about any problems with the state of the pavements and I’m surprised they hadn’t bothered to consult with us.”

Martin, who has lived at The Villas for around 10 years, added: “It would have been sensible for them to speak to us, and it’s bizarre Royal Mail has taken this rather extreme stance.

“The road is not slippery, our bins are emptied and post had been delivered here for a very long time.

“Luckily, I have a car and I’m physically fit, but there are quite a few elderly residents and there’s the care home here too.

“Also, no-one seems to be able to contact the phone number attached with the letter.”

Doug Burnham, aged 49, of The Villas, who has lived at his property for 15 years, said: “It’s a very difficult situation. I can’t see how our neighbourhood differs from any other neighbourhood.

“Sweeping and cleaning is something we do as often as possible. We also tackle things like potholes, drainage issues and fly-tipping.

“We are open to discussions. We would be willing to pay if there were particularly problematic areas and we do that anyway, but obviously we couldn’t do the entirety of the paving.”

Catherine Burgass, aged 47, of The Villas, added: “I was extremely surprised we had not had any prior warning. The pavement has been in the same condition since I moved in 15 years ago. Everybody’s annoyed about it.”

Royal Mail spokeman Val Bodden said: “We have taken the decision to suspend deliveries to a small number of addresses after a number of incidents involving colleagues falling and slipping.

“Our priority is the safety of our people and we apologise to customers."

[daveallum]

Just look at the state of that pavement.

[masterblaster]

If all the residents repaired the path by their property it would be done, why are folk so useless these days? The resident in the article says 'The pavement has been in the same condition since I moved in 15 years ago' , I bet it has got worse in 15 years of snow, ice, floods frost & floods. BA!