Parkstone pillar box has gone - and even the postman didn't know about it!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/resources/images/6582391/?type=responsive-gallery-fullscreen

THE public were not the only ones baffled when their local postbox vanished overnight.

The day after the pillar box disappeared from its spot on a Poole corner, a perplexed postie turned up with a key to empty it.

Royal Mail has apologised that customers were given no notice that the postbox was to disappear, but said it had to go because the Gwynne Road box was on private land whose owner wanted rid of it.

Cllr Marion le Poidevin, Liberal Democrat councillor for Branksome West, was among those who was surprised.

“I went out to post a letter and it wasn’t there. The spot has been roughly surfaced over,” she said.

She was concerned that Royal Mail had not followed the procedures laid out on its website for informing the public. These say: “When a box needs to be taken out of service, either temporarily sealed or permanently removed, a notice will be displayed to tell customers why and give details of the nearest three alternative posting facilities.”

Cllr Le Poidevin said: “Why is there no such notice at the site?

“Why was there no prior notice? The box was undamaged, so there was no reason for its sudden removal.

“To add insult to injury a Royal Mail employee arrived at the site armed with a key to collect mail from the box.

“It seems it’s not only the public who have been kept in the dark!

“Royal Mail have a lot to learn about customer care, loyalty to their users and following their own published procedures.”

Royal Mail spokeswoman Sally Hopkins said: “This postbox was removed following a request from the owner of the land on which it was located. We are legally obliged to remove boxes on private property if we are requested to do so.

“We apologise to customers that no notice was given before the box was removed. We are looking into why this happened and to ensure that it does not happen again.

“The two nearest alternative postboxes are in Ashley Road and Alder Road.

“We do not have plans to replace this box as we believe there is sufficient access to posting facilities in the area. There are a total of seven boxes within the 0.5 miles (by straight line) requirement set out by postal regulator Ofcom.”

She added: “We are not aware of any plans to remove other postboxes in the area.”

[TrueBlueTerrier]

They all have the same letter

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/resources/images/6582390/

[worktotime]

that's ok because the postie can collect there mail while hes on his round because he will have f**k all in his van or bag because mails dropping , its the way forward and the QWU have agreed to this , clueless.

[Lounge Lizard]

They all have the same letter

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/resources/images/6582390/

Yes, with no stamps on, so they can post them at the Post Office after they've bought the stamps there.

[TheTrolleyMan]

that's ok because the postie can collect there mail while hes on his round because he will have f**k all in his van or bag because mails dropping , its the way forward and the QWU have agreed to this , clueless.

. What's the QWU. ?

[worktotime]

that's ok because the postie can collect there mail while hes on his round because he will have f**k all in his van or bag because mails dropping , its the way forward and the QWU have agreed to this , clueless.

. What's the QWU. ?

QUIET WORKERS UNION ,

[Interested-seeker]

that's ok because the postie can collect there mail while hes on his round because he will have f**k all in his van or bag because mails dropping , its the way forward and the QWU have agreed to this , clueless.

One of the culprits is banks who ask their customers to opt for online statements instead of posted ones. Everything is going digital