Response re missing post box.
Good it will be replaced the key question is when which I am still chasing them hard on.
Dear Cllr Sykes
Royal Mail postbox. Milnrow Road, Shaw. Oldham
Thank you for your letter dated 27 January, sent to Mike Newnham.
I am sorry to team of the inconvenience and distress your constituents are experiencing as a result of the removal of the Post box from Milnrow Road.
In terms of the removal of the postbox. I am advised by the local Collections and Planning Manager that it was removed as a direct consequence of an attempt to steal it. During a planned visit to empty the postbox, the Collections Officer noticed the base had been dug out. As a direct consequence, the Collections Officer took the decision to remove the postbox and place it in storage.
As such, I must stress that the removal was not planned and we are currently in the early planning stages of installing a suitable replacement. Taking into account what has happened. As you might imagine with an installation of this type, there are several stages we need to go through before the box can be set up. However, we will do all we can to ensure the process is completed as quickly as possible.
Once again thank you for taking the time to write to us.
Steve Buckley – Chairman & Chief Executive Office
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Local Lib Dem Shaw Councillor Howard Sykes MBE has written to Royal Mail on behalf of many of his constituents who have contacted him regarding a missing mail box on Milnrow Road Shaw (at the entrance to Dunwood Park Courts).
“Over the years, I and my fellow Shaw councillors have campaigned to keep this Post Box as it has been threatened with removal before,” stated Councillor Sykes.
“On each earlier occasion I am pleased to report that Royal Mail was convinced of our arguments and retained the mail box. I am therefore at a loss as to why this has been removed without any prior notice or notification.”
Councillor Sykes and his Lib Dem colleagues have unanimously agreed that this particular Post Box is much needed, especially by the elderly population that lives in that locality.
“Whilst I understand that it may not be used as much as other Post Boxes, this is the closest mail box for a considerable distance in the locality needed without suitable public transport options which many residents of this area of my Ward rely on to get around,” he added.
Councillor Sykes understands that some of his constituents have been in contact with Royal Mail regarding this matter and he has been told they have been given various responses, none of which help to resolve the situation.
“I would welcome a dialog and some information about this matter,” said Councillor Sykes.
“In the past I have supported Royal Mail proposals to small re-locations so that the Post Box is still available to local residents and also ‘works’ for Royal Mail.”
“Hopefully you will be in a position to replace the Post Box as soon as possible to alleviate the inconvenience and distress it is causing for my constituents.”