Royal Mail admits posties to blame for bags dumped on drive

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/3626294 ... d_on_drive_/

By Emma Palmer »


ROYAL Mail has admitted careless postmen were wrong to leave bags stuffed full of undelivered mail on a driveway.

The Echo caught postal workers leaving three bags of letters and parcels on a resident’s front drive in Hilton Road, Canvey.

Yesterday, we told how disgusted neighbours watched in amazement as posties left the Royal Mail bags propped up against a locked garage on a daily basis for more than a week.

Nick Martens, spokesman for Royal Mail, said the postmen should not have left the bags so exposed and stressed it would not happen again.

He said: “Mail that is normally left at a safe drop point at an address in Canvey was incorrectly left in an insecure area.

“This is contrary to our delivery procedures and has been stopped with immediate effect. There is no indication any of the items involved have been tampered with.”

Locals said the bags were left unattended for as long as two hours before the postal workers returned to deliver more mail.

Despite several residents complaining to Royal Mail the bags were a target for thieves who could have easily snatched them, nothing was done until the Echo intervened. The garage is regularly used by postmen and women to store the bags in between rounds.

But despite the garage being locked, the posties still left the bags outside – in plain view of residents and passers-by.

Some residents said they believed mail had been taken from the bags, though Royal Mail stressed this had not been verified.

However, a 68-year-old man living nearby said: “Somebody’s head should roll for this.

“It’s such a stupid thing to do. I bet whoever did it hasn’t even got a slap on the wrist.”

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_n ... _driveway/

By Emma Palmer »


POSTMEN have been leaving bags full of letters and parcels unattended on a driveway.

The black bags, stuffed with hundreds of envelopes possibly containing cheques, letters and personal documents, are being left in Hilton Road, Canvey.

Outraged neighbours have watched in amazement for the past week as the posties have abandoned the Royal Mail bags, then returned hours later to collect and deliver mail.

The Echo has learned the postal workers have been allowed to store the bags inside the homeowner’s garage in between delivery rounds for some time, which is common Royal Mail practice.

However, the resident has locked up their garage.

So, instead of making alternative arrangements, the postmen have simply piled up the bags outside the garage door.

Although they are partially hidden by a parked car, they can be clearly seen by passers-by.

Locals have slammed the gaffe as a “birthday present” for potential thieves who could easily grab handfuls of letters or even make off with the entire stash.

Some have even told the Echo that letters and mail have already been stolen.

A pensioner, 66, who asked not to be named said: “This is a scandal.

“Our letters are in there and they are just leaving them for someone to take.

“How can anyone be that stupid?

“It beggars belief that Royal Mail thinks it could get away with this.

“People have been complaining to me for several days so I actually went to the post office to tell them what was happening, but still nothing has been done.

“It’s disgusting. It is treating our personal mail with total contempt.”

Another angry resident, a 48-year-old woman, added: “Where is the common sense here?

“Anyone could grab these bags, but the postmen continue to leave them here.

“I’ve thought about taking them myself to the post office, but I’d probably get arrested.

“I’ve had people tell me they have been awaiting cheques and letters and they haven’t arrived. It doesn’t take a genius to work out what has happened to them.”

Royal Mail failed to comment.

[k979aaa]

Nice to see the new improved safe bag drop point's are being utilized!.