AN elderly couple have spoken of their frustration that the Royal Mail has not re-instated a post box outside their house, four months after they first complained.

William Bradshaw, 95, and his wife Joan, 86, who live in Church Street, Norton, lost the post box outside their house in when the post office closed in March last year.

Following the removal of the box, the Gazette & Herald covered the issue, and in November the Royal Mail said it would investigate the possibility of reinstating the box.

Now, however, it is refusing to restore the much-needed service.

Mr Bradshaw, who used to work on the railways and in the RAF, said: “The post office took the box out because they said it was inconvenient for people to park outside.

“I don’t understand it, because the other one in Settrington Road is a main road just the same.

“The problem is, there are a lot of older people round here, and it has made it very inconvenient for them.

“I’m still having to get a taxi every time I want to get my pension from the post office, and sometimes when I want to post a letter.

“I have a carer who will post them for me sometimes, but not everyone has that luxury.

“Having a post box nearby is something you ought to be able to take for granted.”

Mr Bradshaw said that although Royal Mail said it would consider installing a box in Commercial Street, he was disheartened because nothing has happened.

Norton councillor Howard Keal said: “The Royal Mail is showing utter indifference to the wishes and needs of its customers.

“Shoppers, business people and residents all want the post box back.

“When I raised the issue with Royal Mail it agreed to look at restoring the post box, which was interpreted in some quarters as a victory.

“Sadly, I’m now being told by an area manager that they won’t budge.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We have thoroughly investigated possible new locations for a post box in the vicinity of Church Street and none is suitable, either because it would be too close to an existing box or because of health and safety reasons.

“We have also reviewed post box usage and the locations of alternative boxes in the area and this has confirmed that the density of post boxes is well within guidelines.”

Mr Keal is now sending a letter to Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier in protest, with a further request for the box to be brought back.