Mail Disorder No post delivered to fed-up locals at St Catherine’s Sq
Residents at a Perth city centre block of flats have hit out after Royal Mail refuses to deliver their post amid what has been described as “security concerns”.
Kevin McMillan from Saint Catherine’s Square says the residents there have not received any mail for over a week because Royal Mail refuses to go in the building to drop off items.
Previously, the post was delivered into black boxes outside the block of flats, but last week these were removed because they were deemed too damaged to use.
The residents still have letterboxes on their front door.
St Catherine’s Square residents Janice Speedie, Matthew Martin and Kevin McMIllan
Kevin said: “Every person has the right to have their mail delivered.
“I understand St Catherine’s Square has a bad name at the moment.
“We used to have a black box for mail on the wall downstairs because, two years ago, the postie found someone on the floor with needles
so she refuses to go up and down the stairs.
“They have taken all the boxes down now. But she is refusing to go up and down the stairs. She only goes to the doors on the ground floor.
“If you go down the stairs to her, she will give you your mail if you ask.
“She never came this week at all. There are people with heroin issues here, and she said she was ‘sick of stepping over them’ in front of them, which is very disrespectful.”
Mr Macmillan explained the consequences of not receiving a direct postal service could be more serious than people realise.
He added: “There are people in here with mental health problems and learning difficulties in a vulnerable position.
“If they are supposed to go to a meeting they can forget unless they get a letter to remind them, and that could mean they have their benefits stopped.
“If you don’t get your bill, you could be charged, there are millions of different things that could happen.
“If they miss a court letter and then don’t turn up to court, they could get arrested. It is quite serious.”
A spokesperson for Royal Mail confirmed: “Due to serious concerns raised by our postwoman delivering to St Catherine’s Square, we are at the moment not delivering to all addresses. We are delivering where we can and where it is safe for our people to do so.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to residents, but the security of our people is paramount to Royal Mail.
“Customers can pick up mail at the delivery office in the meantime if they haven’t had deliveries. We will be carrying out another health and safety review of the Square in the very near future.”
The spokesperson added: “Previously, we were delivering to a bank of postboxes but these are longer in use because they have been vandalised. In the past we have also delivered to a secure central point.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said: “We became aware that residents and tenants of St Catherine’s Square in Perth were not receiving their mail through their individual mailbox.
“To support the delivery of their mail, we installed individual mailboxes at the bottom of each stairwell.
“Following feedback from residents and tenants that these mailboxes were no longer being used, we took the decision to remove them so that the normal mail delivery service could resume.”