Off their Trolley in Eastbourne

[Stormproof]

10/04/08: Red handcarts have appeared

http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/lette ... 3965982.jp

Letters are published each week day at: www.eastbourneherald.co.uk

A new phenomenon has been noted in our streets.

In the last week or so, small, four-wheeled, red handcarts have been appearing in the early evening and disappearing for a few hours during the following day.

A common factor is that they are all securely padlocked to an adjacent lamppost.

One suggestion is that they are used to carry mail for the delivery staff which would seem quite sensible.

But why should Royal Mail clutter our streets giving opportunities to vandals?

What about the disabled, particularly the blind who may collide with them? Are there other possible hazards?

One thing is certain; they have not led to any improvement of the appalling service in not receiving our mail until the mid afternoon.

One wonders whether the Royal Mail has obtained permission from the local council.

If this is a precedent, can we expect window cleaners to padlock their ladders and builders to padlock their wheelbarrows to lampposts etc to avoid taking them home after work?

The possibilities are endless and the mind boggles.

[norbert]

Oh dear ! , Senior Management have really pushed this idea , nothing to do with getting rid of van runs and drivers of course to save money .

[POSTMAN]

Bit of that Norbs but also other things.
The residents,if they are that concerened should lobby their local council to grant planning permission for pouch boxes.
Down my way they turned down over 50% of what we wanted.

[BELIAL]

Still it's created a new job, the hunt the trolley duty,0600 -0930

[axeman]

Just why should local councils pander to royal mail by allowing pouch boxes / trolleys and the like ? after all it's nothing to do with the council just good old royal mail trying to do things on the cheap instead of having the staff inplace to drop off bags etc... if i was a councilor i'd not alow planing for these unsightly boxes or allow the streets to be blighted with trolleys. There of course is the h&s aspect as councils would be putting themselves in the firing line for compensation claims as they must also be acountable for allowing r.m to use these hct etc.. on the pavements

[dongash]

the council here in macclesfield refused to allow any pouch boxes!!!! they started out by saying royal mail had to apply for permission for every single box!!! this was obviously to expensive/time consuming for our leaders, so we have had to stay with the tried and trusted "behind bushes, under hedges, anywhere at all" tried and trusted method!!!

[BELIAL]

Frankly if you leave the trolleys out all night ,it's only a matter of time before one genius decides to take a dump in one