Two articles in our local paper

[saru]

http://www.bedsonsunday.com/bedsonsunda ... ?ID=242333

Parking blues for posties

Posties are being told they cannot stop on double yellow lines to collect mail, despite actually being allowed to.

For years, Royal Mail postal workers in Bedford have been able to park on double yellow lines when loading and unloading mail but now claim they are being refused this privilege.

Posties are being told not to park on double yellow lines. One postman parked on double yellow lines outside the post office on Midland Road to collect the mail and was told by nearby police officers that he had to move.

The postman said: "I just couldn't believe their attitude.

"There was nowhere else for me to park and I was collecting heavy parcels so it made sense.

"We have never had any problems with the police before and have always been allowed a five minute limit on double yellow lines." He added: "There are a few over-zealous police officers who have no common sense who are preventing our efficiency."

On a previous occasion, the postal worker claims he was threatened with arrest after parking on Bedford High Street to collect mail from a postbox.

He said: "It was absolutely ridiculous.

"I have been parking partly on the pavement for years and haven't had any problems before."

A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said: "If there is any vehicle obstructing the traffic then we have to move them to prevent any accidents."

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "The parking restrictions for the postal workers depend on the area."

A spokesman for Bedford Borough Council said: "Royal Mail vehicles, like other vehicles, are allowed to park on double yellow lines when loading and unloading."

http://www.bedsonsunday.com/bedsonsunda ... ?ID=242334

Postboxes runneth over

Cancelled Sunday collections have led to overflowing postboxes at the busiest time of the year.

Mail has been falling out of full-up pillarboxes across the town centre on Monday mornings.

Pictured is one man's attempt to post a handful of Christmas cards, witnessed on Monday December 10, at the Victorian postbox on Harpur Street.

After failing to get them to fall through the slot, he resorted to stuffing them in.

When the postman arrived to empty the box, the extent of the problem became clear.

The postman refused to comment and did not want his picture taken.

Around the corner at the Dane Street Post Office, one man helpfully removed handfuls of mail protruding from the postboxes to take them inside to staff.

He didn't realise it, but he was committing an offence known as Tampering With The Mail, punishable by a prison sentence.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Our mail collections in Bedford are being carried out as normal with additional relief collections at boxes which have had heavy postings.

"Occasionally bulky items or large volume postings are made to boxes which can block the box and if any of our customers are aware of an overflowing box they should make use of another posting facility.

"We would also be grateful if they could contact our customer services on 08457 740 740 and a relief collection will be arranged."

[Stormproof]

Why don't people have the sense to post elsewhere when the post box is full instead of cramming the cards in I thought most offices reintroduced Sunday collections up until xmas, hope the idiot who came up with the idea to get rid of sunday collections right on top of xmas has got the sack

[baldrick]

He probably got a huge bonus

[DirtyHarry]

He probably got a huge bonus

And promotion.

[andy2007]

Why don't people have the sense to post elsewhere when the post box is full instead of cramming the cards in I thought most offices reintroduced Sunday collections up until xmas, hope the idiot who came up with the idea to get rid of sunday collections right on top of xmas has got the sack

Most of the Postboxes will be overflowing on Mondays at this time of year, and you can't expect people to keep driving round to different Boxes, to try to find one with room in it.

They should never have removed the Sunday collections in the first place. It's just another penny pinching excercise, which reduces the level of Service!

[Bernardson]

We've Sunday collections on the run up to Xmas. I went up to the Supermarket today for some shopping and the box was filled to the top and that was an hour before the collection was due! After Xmas it won' really matter.

[saru]

I went out on early morning collections last week & couldn't believe how empty the boxes were compared to the previous years! I don't expect that tomorrow morning though, I expect them to be rammed!! (Says she writing out xmas cards.)

[oldrope]

We have sunday collections in the north east but just for the xmas pressure.

[saru]

Went out at 6.30 this morning & just as I expected, the boxes were chocker. First one I came to some little barstard had put chewing gum in the lock, gave up on that! Same box that was covered in dog s**t a couple of years ago....took a week for them to clean it. Needless to say, I wasn't going to touch it!

[curly1975]

For years now i have been going on to collection planning managers and various collection HUB managers about the positioning and re locating of post boxes and post offices.

They just stick them any where without any thought of H&S issues for staff and members of the public.

I have said to various managers about stopping on yellow lines and every time i get the reply "RM are allowed to stop on yellow lines"

Total Crap!!!!

No where in the Highway Code does it say RM vehicles have he right to park on yellow lines!!

It has always been allowed by "goodwill", eventually this will end and then where will collection drivers be???

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No where in the Highway Code does it say RM vehicles have he right to park on yellow lines!!

I thought RM Vans were allowed to Park on all yellow lines as they are techincally Loading or Unloading. If the lines are painted on the kerb then we are not allowed to stop there as they are the No loading markings.

[curly1975]

If anyone can find anywhere in the highway code anything saying "RM VEHICLES ARE EXEMPT FROM NORMAL PARKING RESTRICTIONS" then please post it as it will be very useful.

If a traffic warden or police officer tells you to move then you dont have any argument.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

If anyone can find anywhere in the highway code anything saying "RM VEHICLES ARE EXEMPT FROM NORMAL PARKING RESTRICTIONS" then please post it as it will be very useful.

If a traffic warden or police officer tells you to move then you dont have any argument.

Not highway code still looking - but an official HMG document at http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file28804.pdf

13. The Post Office enjoys a range of special privileges granted through
legislation in order for it to meet its USO and uniform tariff obligations.
These include exemption from traffic regulations, the power to require
the conveyancing of mailbags and compulsory land purchase powers.
14. The Government intends that these privileges should be maintained.
However, the Regulator will keep them under review and advise the
Government on their continuation, particularly in light of the effects of
reductions in the monopoly. In addition the Government does not rule
Post Office Reform
22

[curly1975]

Well found!

But the point is that no matter what government documents or guidelines say, if a traffic warden or police officer deems that you have a RM vehicle parked in a dangerous place or where it is likely to cause an obstruction then they WILL move you on.

Of course if RM collections planning managers used a bit of common sense or acted on the information or advice given to them by front line RM staff this type of situation would never arise.

[andy2007]

No where in the Highway Code does it say RM vehicles have he right to park on yellow lines!!

I thought RM Vans were allowed to Park on all yellow lines as they are techincally Loading or Unloading. If the lines are painted on the kerb then we are not allowed to stop there as they are the No loading markings.

You are spot on TBT. If there are no marks on the Kerb, you are allowed to load/unload ondouble yellow lines. You are supposed to put a note in the vehicle window, and are only allowed a few minutes (generally accepted as 5 mins by Traffic Wardens). That is the POINT of the extra marks on the Kerb, to tell you not to load/unload.

However. If a Traffic Warden or Police Officer asks you to move on for safety reasons, you must comply. For example: if you are partly on the pavement, or causing some kind of hazard to other traffic.

I know, that a lot of people park partly on the Pavement to avoid restricting traffic flow. The Traffic Wardens and Police generally turn a blind eye to that, because it is a sensible thing to do. But if you haven't left enough room for Pedestrians to get through with Prams, and they have to go into the road, they will move you on.