THE prolonged spell of bad weather has caused problems for Royal Mail with large amounts of post not making it through to Caithness, while the conditions on many of the side roads within the county have caused a disruption to local deliveries.
Earlier this week, Wick-based delivery manager Alex MacDonald told the John O’Groat Journal: “The country routes have been absolutely atrocious. It is treacherous in places. Our main problem areas have been Watten and Bower which we are struggling to get to.
“We have not got the vehicles to handle the weather. Safety is our priority; if it seems dangerous we keep everybody in town.”
Explaining that sometimes staff were having to drive through blizzard conditions to make deliveries, he said: “As far as Royal Mail is concerned the safety of our people comes first.
“We are getting some mail through and would like to ask customers to be patient. We know that Christmas is just around the corner, we just need to wait for a break in the weather to try and get back to some sort of normality.”
Pointing out that the sorting offices were only getting about half the mail that normally comes through at this time of year, Mr Macdonald said: “It is bottle-necked further south. The central belt has come to a total halt. The whole system needs to get moving again.”
Postmen and woman in Thurso were also doing their best to get the mail out and all had been equipped with shovels in case vans became stuck on some of the side roads. A few locations were not accessible, but some customers were collecting mail from the town’s sorting office.
On Wednesday, Lybster postie Lynsey Sinclair, of Forse, was spotted pushing her trolley along the snowy pavements in the village by Landward Caithness councillor Willie Mackay, who was out and about visiting some of his constituents.
Mr Mackay, who last week commended local coal man Garry Sinclair for his efforts to keep up deliveries, said: “Here we have another great example of community spirit in getting the letters delivered.
“It’s bad enough trying to walk and keep your feet through heavy snow conditions, as we have all experienced recently, but to push a laden trolly is some feat.
“I’m full of admiration for the girl who seems so friendly and dedicated to her work in getting the mail through to the villagers.”
Taking it all in her stride, Lynsey, who has worked with Royal Mail for the past five years, said: “It is not easy, but it is part of the job and I just get on with it. All the other posties are doing a good job too.”
Lynsey, who does all of her round on foot, commented: “For some of the older folk I may be the only person they see in a day. It is good to see a smile on their faces.”
She added: “Once we get a bit of a thaw and all the mail comes through it will be pandemonium.”
