Camphill Road Post Box is Reopened by Royal Mail

Damaged Wall and 'closed' post box December 2013

Royal Mail have recently reversed their decision to permanently suspend collections from a Broughty Ferry post box. The post box in question is built into the stone wall at the junction of Camphill and Bughties Roads.

This week a constituent has written to let me know they are now able to use this post box again. My constituent wrote:

"I am writing to thank you all (all Four Ferry Councillors) for the help you have given in recovering the post box. I shall test it out today by sending a letter to friends and relatives in England. it was really good to see the Royal Mail responding to local pressure. Neighbours are delighted."

In December, I publicised residents' concerns about delays to the restoration of the stone wall in which the the post box was mounted and the temporary suspension of collections from this post box. The photograph, shows the wall damaged by a car colliding with it and the safety fencing preventing collections from the post box set in the wall. This accident, I think, provided the pretext for Royal Mail trying to permanently withdraw collections from the box.

I am pleased to have played my part in restoring the postal service by corresponding with Managment at a Royal Mail and submitting Freedom of Information requests to uncover whom they had consulted in the City Council and with what response. It seems in retrospect that the case to justify permanent closure of this postal box was flimsy. I am pleased that decision has been overturned.

Royal Mail Post Box On Camphill Road Corner Closed

At the December meeting of Broughty Ferry Community Council, I reported residents' concerns about a damaged stone wall at the junction of Camphill Road and Bughties Road. Holes and cracks in the stone work had been apparently caused by a car crashing into it. The Conservation Officer of the Council had confirmed that the owners of the property were pursuing an insurance claim and repairs to the wall would be forthcoming.

At the same location, right on the corner of these two roads, there is a Royal Mail Post Box. It currently remains difficult to access behind some temporary barriers keeping the public away from the falling masonry. Now residents have noticed that the box has had its letter slot covered. It is rumoured that this is not just a temporary measure. 

Two resident's approached me concerned that a temporary suspension of collections by Royal Mail might turn into a long term closure of this letter box. They pointed out out that there are a significant number of older people in the area and that it is a much longer walk to the next nearest letters boxes in the wider area.

I have written to Royal Mail to request reassurance that this is merely a temporary suspension of collections until the wall is repaired and the public can access to this letter box again.

Royal Mail Blocks Customers Stocking Up on Postage Stamps Ahead of Massive Price Rises Next Monday

From next Monday the cost of sending a letter will dramatically increase by nearly 40 per cent. A first class stamp will go up from 46p to 60p and a second class stamp from 36p to 50p.
A constituent rang me today to complain she had apparently found it hard to buy a book of second class stamps this week. She had been told that there would not be any more books of second class stamps available at the Campfield Square and Gray Street Post Offices until next week when the price will of course be appreciably higher.
She was full of praise for the helpful Post Office staff in the Ferry; but they can't sell what Royal Mail will not supply.
This seems as though Royal Mail is deliberately holding back supplies of stamps at existing prices before they zoom up next week.
In ordinary circumstances, I am sure they would be quick to replenish vanishing stocks in Post Offices and other retailers that sell stamps.  
This steep level of increase is hardly likely to nudge us into sending more items through the letter post. I am therefore worried that the scale of the increases will hinder rather than help efforts to make our Royal Mail profitable. Unfortunately it seems that these increases will merely hit the pockets again of hard pressed families and local businesses.