Silver Hill Estate still waiting for a post box 10 months after the old one was stolen

Irene Davidson and Councillor Andy Kelly

Residents on the Silver Hill Estate in Milnrow are still waiting for a new post box ten months after the old one was stolen by thieves.

Councillor Andy Kelly has been working with local residents to persuade Royal Mail to replace it.

Royal Mail, who are suffering a spate of the post box robberies have admitted they are no nearer to sorting it out.

An astonishing twenty five post boxes were stolend in the 'OL' Post-code alone in the last year (that's Rochdale, Heywood, Littleborough, Oldham Ashton-under-Lyne, Bacup and Todmorden).

Councillor Andy said: "Residents on the Silver Hill Estate continue to be frustrated over their lack of a post box. Their old one, the only one on the estate, was nicked months ago. Still, Royal Mail have not replaced it despite pleas from local residents. I have been in regular touch with Royal Mail bosses about this and they admit they've no idea when they are going to replace it. These thefts are a disaster for places like Rochdale.

"In the days of email, text messages and social media, post boxes are not maybe as important to some, however to the likes of pensioners they are a way of life. To have no post box means walking to the nearest alternative 15 minutes away across a busy main road. It's not right, that's why I am fighting to sort this for local people."

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We can confirm that several postboxes have been stolen in the OL postcode area recently. We apologise to customers for the inconvenience and will always look to replace stolen boxes, providing it is practicable to do so. Royal Mail has some 115,000 post boxes around the country and thankfully thefts of postboxes are relatively rare.

"We advise that customers make use of other post boxes local to them and local Post Office branches for dropping off as well as collecting items.

"We treat all theft of mail and of postboxes extremely seriously and if anyone has any information about these thefts, they should contact the police immediately.”