Post Box disappearance does not sound the last post

Date article online: 23/07/2007

There was a bit of a commotion amongst residents of Thornham recently because a local post box positioned on the corner of Ash Grove and Oldham Road mysteriously vanished!

Regular users of this post box, much to their dismay, discovered that it had been removed and so faced the prospect of having to use collection points which were a considerable distance away and getting to them would be physically challenging for the less mobile.

A couple of senior citizens contacted Balderstone amp; Kirkholt Councillor Dale Mulgrew who endeavored to get the post-box replaced.

On behalf of local residents Councillor Mulgrew contacted the Royal Mail regional Headquarters' external relations office, who explained the reason for the disappearance; as the post box was integral to a perimeter wall it had been displaced as part of renovations to a private property.

As a result the Royal Mail were powerless to act, but gave an assurance that another site was being located on Ash Grove and the re-instatement of a new mailbox and delivery regime should happen towards the start of the autumn. The minor delay would be caused as they have to work with the council and other utility companies to search out the best site that offers the least disturbance in the future.

Councillor Mulgrew said: "This will cause some disruption, especially to local residents who will struggle to access the alternate post boxes at Buersil Post Office and at the Top of the summit on the border of Rochdale and Oldham, but I am particularly pleased at the caring and responsible attitude of the Royal Mail in the fact that there is no question they wish to rectify this situation and replace the post box.

"Clearly the Royal Mail realise to keep their customers they need to offer a first class service to the letter! Seriously, with the advent of competition introduced into the UK postal system service Royal Mail have shown that they value their customers through committing to this post box re-instatement."