No gold post boxes for Games champions

A plea to honour Scotland’s Commonwealth Games heroes with gold post boxes in their home towns has been rejected.

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie had urged Royal Mail to recognise members of the record-breaking Team Scotland in the same way as the stars of 2012’s London Olympics.

However, Royal Mail has said it will not be considering the gesture, calling London 2012 a “unique occasion”.

The Scottish sporting stars’ collective haul of more than 40 medals at the Gold Coast is higher than at any other overseas Commonwealth Games.

Mr Hosie said: “I congratulate all of Team Scotland for their terrific, record-breaking efforts at this year’s Games and in particular Mark Stewart from Dundee, who won gold in the cycling points race.

“By awarding gold post boxes to the home towns of our goldwinning athletes we would not only recognise their superb victories but we could inspire and encourage a new generation of...scottish athletes.

“Everything points to a great future for Scottish sport, especially here in Dundee with the exciting plans for the new regional performance centre.”

SNP councillor Kevin Cordell, Dundee City Council cycling spokesman, has also written to Royal Mail.

He said: “As well as recognising the personal achievements of Mark and others, it would also be a reminder and hopefully inspiration to the young cyclists of today who may look to follow their heroes in competitive sport or it could simply encourage the recreational cyclist to get on their bike more often.

“I think it would be a fantastic gesture.”

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said there were no plans to repeat the gold post box honour this time round.