Postboxes boarded up after low traffic schemes disrupt collections
POSTBOXES in Oxfordshire were boarded up after congestion on roads that were closed to create low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) prevented postmen collecting mail on time.
Royal Mail had to reduce services in Cowley and east Oxford after traffic was diverted on to main roads, significantly increasing journey times. Boxes were sealed with a message that read: “It has become necessary to temporarily remove this postbox from service due to not being able to meet the final collection time as a result of the LTN scheme.”
Oxfordshire county council introduced three LTNs in the Cowley area last year as part of the “green transport revolution” introduced by Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, to try to promote cycling and walking. However, critics claim the schemes increase congestion and pollution on roads forced to accommodate diverted vehicles. A council consultation found businesses had warned that LTNs adversely affected trade.
Pictures of the message were posted on a Twitter account along with the caption: “Another own goal by Oxfordshire county council.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We temporarily closed a small number of postboxes in the OX4 and OX3 areas, following some traffic delays that had affected our access to them. We have since reopened these postboxes.”
A spokesman for Oxfordshire county council said Royal Mail had not raised “any issues” but the authority had seen social media posts about the closures and had been seeking to contact it to discuss any issues it wished to raise.