UK government to review low-level letter boxes
The UK government has officially backed a move to ban low-level letter boxes from new buildings.
In January 2019 Post & Parcel reported that Tory MP Vicky Ford has gained initial approval for her proposed legislation that would ban letter boxes being placed at the bottom of doors in newly built constructions.
The government’s Building Regulations Advisory Committee has now announced it will be reviewing low letter boxes on new build properties. And it has promised to consider changing the law as early as 2020.
Conservative MP Vicky Ford took up their cause with a private member’s bill on a minimum letterbox height.
On hearing about the review Vicky Ford tweeted: “Victory! Absolutely delighted that low level letter boxes will now be in next review of building regs.”
Every year, 16,800 Royal Mail workers have time off due to back complaints, said Mrs Ford. Unions have waged a long campaign to protect workers from back injuries, dog bites and trapped fingers.
The move is supported by Royal Mail staff who are in the Communication Workers’ Union.
The new regulations are likely to be similar to European standards, where a letterbox must be between 0.7m and 1.7m high.
