Three-week mail ban after bite on postman - Blackpool

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/ ... _1_3894095" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ROYAL Mail bosses have been accused of being heavy handed for banning deliveries in a Blackpool street after a postman was mauled by a dog.

Residents in part of Horncliffe Road, South Shore, have been told deliveries have been suspended indefinitely – and they are now worried they could be missing vital letters and appointments.

Deliveries will only resume when the owner of the dog confirms the animal is being kept secure, the Royal Mail said.

For the past three weeks, residents have had to travel into Blackpool to the sorting office in Abingdon Street to collect their letters.

And it is feared people could be missing out on important correspondence, including hospital appointments.

Resident Keith Wilson, 70, told The Gazette: “I think it is terrible a postman has been attacked, but we’re really struggling to receive our mail.

“I can’t drive at the moment so I have to go down on the bus to the sorting office every few days.

“My wife is disabled, and gets lots of doctors appointments by letter and we’re scared she’ll miss one.

“Why don’t they at least leave our mail at Highfield Road Post Office so we can collect it there, or bring a van to the street which we can get it from?”

Other residents, who asked not to be named, said Royal Mail had refused to tell them when deliveries might be resumed.

One added: “Myself along with around 30 other houses have now not received any mail for the last three weeks.

“We were not informed of the suspension of mail by the post office and only found out by someone contacting the sorting office.

“So for the last three weeks we have had to travel into Blackpool to collect our mail which for anyone working, can be difficult to fit in.

“Apparently, no mail can be delivered to our part of the street until a full health and safety report has been completed.

“Surely the simple solution would be to have suspended delivery to the house where the dog which carried out the attack is kept.

“Why punish a whole street for the sake of one house?”

Another resident added: “People might be missing hospital appointments and other important appointments such as job interviews.”

Royal Mail confirmed it had suspended deliveries but said it had to put the safety of staff first.

Spokesman Marie Gray added: “Following an incident where a postman was attacked by a dog and received serious bite wounds, as a last resort Royal Mail suspended deliveries to a number of addresses in Horncliffe Road.

“Royal Mail takes very seriously the safety of its employees, particularly our frontline staff who deliver the mail.

“Unfortunately, dog attacks are a hazard faced by our postmen and women every working day and our first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers.

“Royal Mail seeks the co-operation of our customers and we encourage the public to take responsibility for keeping their pets under control. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to customers.

“As soon as the dog owner can confirm the dog will be secured when the postman or woman calls we will be able to resume deliveries to the area.

“We are working with the owner to resolve this situation as soon as possible.”

She added it was not possible to arrange for mail to be collected from a nearby post office because Royal Mail and the Post Office are separate companies.

[andy2007]

Instead of whining about RM suspending their deliveries to the Press. Why aren't the residents putting pressure on the dog owner, to secure the animal, so they can have their deliveries back?
There's no legal (that I'm aware of) reason why they couldn't go to the Press, and try to shame the dog owner. Instead of criticising RM for protecting Posties from a dangerous dog!

What are the Police doing about the dangerous dog?

[brothermagrew]

“We were not informed of the suspension of mail by the post office and only found out by someone contacting the sorting office.

In this respect the annoyed residents of neighbouring properties are quite correct to have a genuine gripe with Royal Mail over the non delivery of their mail.

It is clearly the Delivery Office Manager's function to notify by letter all affected residents of that particular street that with immediate effect notice of suspension of mail delivery. What the residents should have received from the DOM is a copy of the Dog Hazard Neighbouring Property Letter (which is available to DOMs under the WRAP process). Clearly the DOM is not doing his or her job properly if the residents are saying that they were not informed of the suspension of mail. Of which the first three paragraphs read.

Dear (Customer Name),

Re: Notice of suspension of mail delivery with immediate effect.

You may already be aware that, on (time/date), a Royal Mail post person was attacked by a dog whilst delivering near your property. As a result, a health and safety risk assessment was undertaken and confirmed that the level of risk associated with delivering to your property was unacceptably high due to the threat of further dog attacks.

Royal Mail will carry out its own further investigation into the circumstances surrounding (this/these incident/s) in due course, and we will continue to work with (the dog owner / local authorities / dog warden / police) to ensure the dog is restrained. However, I’m very sorry to advise that, until such time as we can guarantee this, we are unable to access your property and deliver mail safely.

Due to the serious nature of the incident, deliveries to your address will therefore be suspended with immediate effect. I hope you understand that this exceptional step is being taken in order to safeguard the health and safety of Royal Mail employees.

[robg]

How do we deliver a letter saying the dog is biting postmen?

[andy2007]

My point exactly! I realise that it's standard procedure for the residents to be informed by letter, but how do we get the letters to the residents, if it's too dangerous to deliver the mail?

[Pinky 1]

We don't deliver the letter, the DOM and a sidekick go out and do it

[brothermagrew]

My point exactly! I realise that it's standard procedure for the residents to be informed by letter, but how do we get the letters to the residents, if it's too dangerous to deliver the mail?

Surely if management take it upon themselves to do daily or weekly checks/patrols on their staff whilst they are out on delivery, then they most surely can utilise this time to good effect, by hand delivering the said letters themselves to the affected residents. Have to agree though i haven't yet seen a definative answer given by Royal Mail to this query.

Having said the above a short extract (comments) from another street resident(s) who had their mail deliveries suspended.

Gordon England, aged 55, of Newman Road, is among residents notified of the suspension by post a week ago. He said: "Royal Mail were able to come and put that letter through the door, but not any normal post.

"I can't believe it's been suspended to the whole street."

Leanne Keith, aged 24, another street resident, said: "It's absolutely ridiculous and the whole street has to suffer because of it. The dogs are not vicious at all. It's barmy.

"We can see the post being delivered to other streets. Why can't they just walk up the road?"

A Royal Mail spokesman said the company takes safety of its employees very seriously, particularly those who deliver mail. He said: "Our main aim is to prevent attacks and to train staff in techniques to help keep them safe. We also need the co-operation of our customers and we encourage the public to take responsibility for keeping their pets under control. The suspension of mail deliveries is a last resort."

Which may ultimately mean that posties may be instructed by their manager to attempt one final delivery in order to get these notices of suspension out.

[brothermagrew]

My point exactly! I realise that it's standard procedure for the residents to be informed by letter, but how do we get the letters to the residents, if it's too dangerous to deliver the mail?

On the other hand Andy until I read this post, they do say a good picture is worth it's weight in gold. Could this be the answer to your burning question.

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/ ... _1_3902629" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

At least one Royal Mail manager is taking their responsibility over health and safety matters seriously.

Surely a precedent has now been set

[andy2007]

I hope so. Still the comments at the end of the article, show a lot of stupidity on the part of the readers. But I suppose that's to be expected.

I wonder if it'd be possible in the future, to phone the residents. Instead of anyone having to deliver the notices to their door. Obviously, there are some, who're ex-directory, or don't have an answerphone, and aren't in when the Manager calls. But surely word would get round to those who were missed.

[deanomac83]

I am 100% in support of Royal Mail's stance on this.

[Pinky 1]

On a side note, why doesn't my DOM look like Fylde’s delivery manager Hannah Stott

[DGP1]

On a side note, why doesn't my DOM look like Fylde’s delivery manager Hannah Stott

I personally don't recognise her as a manager..................they can only be identified by the cup of coffee glued to their hand