Woburn Sands hanging baskets spark Royal Mail postal row

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-be ... s-28934985" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



A man says Royal Mail has refused to post him letters because his hanging baskets are too big.

Peter Kelly said his postwoman had told him ducking underneath the trailing begonias and geraniums to get to his front door was hurting her back.

"We're in our late-70s so I can't see why she can't do it," said Mr Kelly, from Woburn Sands, Buckinghamshire.

Royal Mail said there had been no formal suspension of mail but it was in discussions about what could be done.

Mr Kelly said he first heard about the concerns after speaking to the postwoman on Monday after not receiving any letters for a fortnight.

"I've had [baskets] bigger than that. The previous post lady used to just walk through," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"It doesn't take a half a second to bend down, push the post through and then out.

"We have to do it, me and my wife, and we're in our late-70s so I can't see any reason why she can't do it."

Mr Kelly said he had had hanging baskets bigger than his current ones

Royal Mail spokeswoman, Felicity MacFarlane, said: "We'd like to apologise to Mr Kelly for his recent concerns over his mail delivery.

"There has been no formal delivery suspension but our postwoman has experienced difficulty on recent occasions delivering the mail.

"Mr Kelly's mail has been delivered to him today and Royal Mail is discussing the matter with the customer."

[weary_posty]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds ... s-28934985" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Is this really a health and safety risk?

[rehabron]

there is a risk to the postwoman if she was delivering to this address in the darkness or bad light and the foliage came in contact with her eyes has that been considered.

[GT750rider]

And of course if it's raining or has been raining heavily then I can see an already soaked and pissed off Postie quite rightly ( in my mind ) refusing to deliver.

[sophie97]

to be fair, its not a danger, but it does get on my nerves when you have to fight your way to the door or places

[scoobydo79]

The residents are fortunate not to have bad backs themselves and should show a little more concern and sympathy.Any one on here who has a back problem will know that the slightest unguarded bend or twist can feel like You have had a carving knife thrust into You.

[iminavest]

"We have to do it, me and my wife, and we're in our late-70s"

If it's an inconvenience to everyone, why have them in the first place

[Hitcher]

People need to realise that their paths are our workplace - imagine them having to duck under something in their workplace or in a shop, etc.

[joeyuk]

And of course if it's raining or has been raining heavily then I can see an already soaked and pissed off Postie quite rightly ( in my mind ) refusing to deliver.

Have one of these on my round. Bad enough in the dry but int he wet i get soaked and they is no way to get round it. Did mention it to the customer but they just looked at me as if i was taking the piss. Today i made no attempt to protect their mail from the soaking i got.

[framusjsx]

Theyd soon moan if the postie busted it through the plants and they broke off.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds ... s-28934985

Is this really a health and safety risk?

Yes - check out the picture in the article (I merged our threads together) - you can't even see the baskets themselves. Head strikes, ouch looks heavy.

[DB1100]

Why didn't they leave enough room to get to the door ffs,some people are so stupid,I am amazed that they remember to breathe.

[Sidley]

Got an address where the crocosmia on one side of the path and the overhanging Rose bush on the other conspire to make entry impossible. the customer uses the rear door of the house so doesn't care, big Postie boot prints across her garden might change this.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

If I cannot walk to a delivery point in a normal fashion without risk to myself or others, to leave items in a safe and secure location, I'll be damned if they are getting their mail... End of!

I hope the union are giving this postie full support, the baskets go or a secure mail box is placed a sensible height of ~3-feet between the road and the baskets.

[Newbie001]

"We're in our late-70s so I can't see why she can't do it," said Mr Kelly, from Woburn Sands, Buckinghamshire."

They might be old, but I bet they don't have a 10kg plus bag strapped to their back that can it difficult to bend .

And to go to the newspaper to complain. Some people make you laugh.