Post box removal anger

Royal Mail chiefs delivered the latest blow to a local community already blighted by lost services when they removed its post box.

One woman, who wants to remain anonymous, claims the firm took the post box on Abbeyhills Road, Oldham, two weeks ago without consulting near-by householders.

She claims a representative from Royal Mail said the box would be replaced. But with no sign of a new one after two weeks, she gave the company a call — only to be told there were no plans to replace it.

Now locals — including many elderly residents — face a half-mile walk to post mail.

The concerned resident said: “We have already lost a post office, library and a butcher’s. Are they going to rip the Tarmac off the road too?

“This area is becoming unfit to live in. We have been told to use Lees Road post box, or the one on Holts Estate, Glodwick or Warren Lane up the road, but some people on the estate can’t get that far.

“We were never consulted about this. A postal worker told us that there would be a meeting to discuss a new location for the post box within Abbeyhills but when I called Royal Mail, they didn’t know anything about it.”

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: “The post box on Abbeyhills Road was on private property.

“Following the closure of the post office, we were instructed to remove it. The box will not be replaced as we are satisfied there are sufficient alternatives.”