WARD QUESTION I SUBMITTED TO LAST NIGHT’S MEETING OF OLDHAM COUNCIL AND WOULD HAVE ASKED BUT it WAS RULED OUT OF TIME.

In Shaw and Crompton a large number of Royal Mail post boxes have been removed or stolen, greatly inconveniencing many of my constituents and those of Crompton colleagues, particularly constituents who are elderly or infirm.

I am sure Councillors in other wards in our borough have also experienced this.

I am also concerned about the amount of time that it takes Royal Mail to provide a replacement post box. The delay is certainly several months and in one case in my ward we are still waiting some 8 months after Royal Mail removed it.

Does the appropriate cabinet member share my concerns about post boxes being removed or stolen in our borough and the time taken to replace them, and will the Cabinet Member make representations on this matter to Royal Mail?