Postman ‘refuses to deliver to cobbled street’

Royal Mail has told postmen they do not have to deliver to UK homes on cobbled streets in bad weather, because rain makes them too “dangerous”, reports the Daily Telegraph. The article continues:

Sally Bellamy, 53, complained that deliveries to her street – the last cobbled road in Bideford, north Devon – had been erratic for three years.

She claimed that her regular postman refuses to walk less than 20 yards along the path to her home even in good weather, and instead dumps mail with a neighbour at the top of the road.

She described the situation as ridiculous and said although she suffered from arthritis in her ankles and other joints, she had no problem crossing the cobbles.

She said: “I’ve been told it’s my path that’s dangerous, but the slates have been there for 280 years without a problem.

“Courier parcels get delivered and fruit and veg gets delivered. They don’t have problems – I don’t believe my postman is endangering his life.”

Michael Dalton, of Royal Mail, said the company was making deliveries to the terrace, except when it was considered unsafe.

He said: “The road is in a poor state of repair and when wet or icy it can become dangerous. There are occasions when we have not been able to make deliveries and alternative arrangements have been made.

“We are in contact with residents and continue to seek a solution with them.”