As stated in the October Pennant the Parish Council had been made aware of an application to remove the current post box, located in the conservation area at the Old Post Office House, Bradford Abbas, and the installation of a new post box in Churchwell Street.
The Parish Council objected to the proposal as it felt that the post box, which is a G R post box, had been in its present location since c.1934. The Parish Council also considered that the proposal to install a new post box in Churchwell Street, within 5 metres of the road junction on a street with no pedestrian pavement, was not a suitable position due to road safety issues, with increased traffic on the small no through road. The Parish Council requested a site meeting in early October with Royal Mail, which is yet to be arranged.
The Parish Council was totally unaware that Royal Mail would, on Tuesday of this week, the 7th of November 2023, seal the existing box and paint it black prior to the installation of a new post box in the village, leaving the village with no postal service. This action was discussed that evening at the Parish Council meeting.
Following this meeting the Parish Council immediately contacted our Member of Parliament, Chris Loder, issued a press release stating the Council’s position and contacted Royal Mail and were advised that proper procedures had not apparently been followed by Royal Mail.
The Parish Council is pressing Royal Mail to re-instate the collection service immediately.