Royal Mail’s plans to relocate a postbox in a South Cumbrian town have been referred to its internal complaints body.
The firm announced that it was moving Broughton-in-Furness’ postbox to Station Road after its post office on Princess Street closed.
The proposal, revealed in July last year, provoked fury in the town and a petition was launched against the plans.
People said a more logical – and safer – place was Broughton Square.
A new Post Office has since opened there, operated by Broughton Community Services CIC.
Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham stepped in, but Royal Mail stood by its decision to site the postbox on Station Road, despite its proximity to the busy auction mart.
Now, Mrs Scrogham has referred its decision to the Postal Review Panel.
The panel is intended to act independently and provide a fair, impartial and evidence-based review of unresolved customer complaints.
Mrs Scrogham said: “Despite sustained representations from residents and from me as the local MP, Royal Mail has maintained its position that Station Road is the preferred location, and has declined to reconsider siting the postbox in Broughton Square, adjacent to the new Post Office.
“The basis of this escalation is a fundamental disagreement with Royal Mail’s assessment of accessibility and safety.
“Residents, particularly older people and those with mobility impairments, have consistently raised concerns that Station Road is frequently obstructed by parked vehicles during auction mart days.
“These events are a regular and foreseeable feature of life in Broughton, not just occasional, and should therefore be treated as part of the normal operating environment when assessing accessibility. At these times, the road and pavements become effectively inaccessible for many residents.
“By contrast, Broughton Square is a wider, more open space that routinely accommodates buses, delivery vehicles, and pedestrian movement. It is widely regarded locally as the most accessible and inclusive location, particularly given its proximity to the new Post Office.
“While Royal Mail has stated that it is not required to carry out a public consultation on the siting of a postbox, I am concerned that the decision-making process may not have given sufficient weight to equality and accessibility considerations.
“Royal Mail has also suggested that residents may hand mail directly to postmen and women as an alternative. While this may assist some individuals on occasion, it cannot reasonably be regarded as an adequate or consistent substitute for a permanently accessible post box serving the whole community.”
Cumbria Crack asked Royal Mail last year why it had chosen Station Road.
It did not answer the question directly, but a spokesman said: “There’s a number of reasons that will be considered. These include accessibility for the postman or woman, whether it’s on public and not private land, and as they go quite deep, whether there’s any electricals or water piping that needs to be considered.”
