Two-month mail ban for street after stray dog bites postman

A STREET has had no post for nearly two months after a stray dog attacked a postman.

Royal Mail bosses have deemed Brock Place in Whins of Milton, Stirling, too dangerous for deliveries after the attack on one of its workers on 16 April.

The postman was treated in hospital, but residents said yesterday that suspending deliveries to the entire street was an over-reaction.

However, there was good news for Brock Place residents last night when Royal Mail promised that deliveries would be resume today.

The mail suspension left about a dozen householders having to walk to their nearest delivery office to collect their post for the past seven weeks.

Resident Carl Purser, 50, said Royal Mail failed to announce they had stopped deliveries.

He said: "I understand that postmen have to be protected - but don't punish everyone else in the street. I've had to get my post every day and it's about a 40-minute walk, or a ten-minute drive.

"Nobody actually told us our post was getting stopped. We just realised after a week or so we weren't getting any. I was worried our post was getting stolen and about ID theft.

"Eventually I called the Royal Mail and they said they wouldn't be coming back because of fears for safety of their postmen. I tried to find out more but they said they couldn't because of the Data Protection Act, which I thought was ridiculous."

A woman who lives in the street and saw the dog attack said: "It was about nine in the morning and I saw a large black lurcher-type dog barking at the man. Seconds later the young postman was lying on the ground. I'll never forget seeing all the post lying on the ground next to him. The postman was terrified. It went twice for his leg. He had to go to the hospital for a jag.

"We've not had any mail for six to eight weeks, and we're all very annoyed."

Local councillor Steven Paterson said several residents had contacted him about the situation.

He added: "I understand that postal vote forms had to be collected from the depot in the run-up to the general election on 5 May, that birthday presents - some of them perishable - haven't arrived, and that one resident is experiencing severe difficulties running his business from home without a daily mail delivery.

"None of these customers owns the dog involved in the alleged incident.

"I have written to Royal Mail asking how they intend to achieve their own stated duty of a universal obligation to deliver mail to their customers in Brock Place, who I believe have done nothing wrong but have received no delivery of mail in more than seven weeks."

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "Normal deliveries will resume with effect from Thursday 9 June as the situation appears to have been resolved."

STAY SAFE

TIPS on avoiding a dog attack, by pet behaviourist Pippa Hutchison:

• If walking, jogging or cycling, stop moving towards the dog.

• Stay calm. Don't try to shoo away the dog as you will increase the threat.

• Try to get something between you and the dog. It may be a parcel, a bag or your coat.

• Watch the dog, but do not stare into its face.

• Don't make sudden movements.

• Talk to the dog calmly in a pleasant tone of voice.