New postbox prompts safety concerns

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/new ... cerns.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CONCERNS over public safety have been raised after a postbox outside Wick Post Office was re-sited on the other side of the busy A99 road.

Ronnie Risbridger, sub-postmaster at the High Street office, said that it was "absolutely crazy" for the postbox to be moved, and he claimed the work had been carried out "without any prior consultation".

He said that it was only a matter of time before someone was knocked over while crossing to the postbox. And he maintained that anyone who stopped to post letters at the new site, which is next to a bus stop, would be parking illegally and could incur a £30 fine.

Mr Risbridger said the move would also hold customers up, particularly at Christmas.

He explained that the change took place last Wednesday, when a Romec engineer, working on behalf of Royal Mail, installed the new postbox across the road and sealed up the existing two-slot one located just outside the post office.

Mr Risbridger said he was "furious" that nobody had told him what was happening.

He said that one of the slots of the old postbox was sealed anyway because it had rotted away, and that they had both been needing replacing for years.

He said: "Surely this box should have been replaced like for like without causing the public to cross a busy road to post." He added: "It's worked fine for 14 years, why change it?" A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail said: "It was proving difficult to get replacements for the wall boxes and so we took the decision to install the freestanding postbox."

She explained that Royal Mail needed to consider pavement width and the weight of the new postbox in relocating it, and said it was impossible to obtain a suitable location on the same side of the road as the post office.

She added: "It was explained that the postbox would have to be replaced and that there was no suitable site outside the post office." Although the new postbox has two slots, there is no indication as to which one is for Caithness and which one is for other addresses.

The spokeswoman confirmed that mail is still sorted in Wick up until 2.30pm, after which it is sent to Inverness.

Mr Risbridger has raised the issue of the postbox with local councillors.

[carpbarbel]

knowing how romec work they probably sited it incorrect and it was probably be supposed to be replaced in the existing position

[johnsouthwales]

[johnsouthwales]

yikes... walking back from the pub last night, i went the slightly longer way home passing by the closed post office (which is not in the post office list, as they strangely omitted).. anyway, something glimpsed from across the road.. a brand new post box. they decomissioned the one on the ex post office property, installed the new one opposite..quite busy main road, with a zebra crossing adjacent..

only slight hiccup.. where the post box is, is next to the bt kiosk, about two metres or so apart.. and to the left of the post box, about a metre is..... the bus shelter... yes, you guessed it..... no parking. can't park in a bus bay lol