Innocent residents of an Aberdeen tenement block were told they would have to take a five-mile round trip to collect their mail after deliveries were suspended – despite living directly above a post office.
Royal Mail stopped its staff from visiting six addresses on Victoria Road, Torry, on May 21 after one of its postmen was attacked by a dog there.
But rather than getting their post sent to the shop right beside them, the residents were told they would have to pick up any letters and parcels from a delivery office in Altens instead.
Yesterday, the owner of the dog said a visitor had accidentally let the pet loose in the stairwell, and that she was “gutted” by what had happened.
She said: “We miss our mail getting delivered. We are all very disappointed.”
Royal Mail has confirmed that the residents’ deliveries are now being made to the Victoria Road post office.
A notice posted inside the tenement block, dated June 1, said: “We have contacted the local post office on your behalf and can confirm that they are willing to help by taking receipt of mail for residents as a temporary arrangement.”
The dog owner added: “It’s a relief that we can get our mail sent downstairs instead.”
The actions of the postal service were branded “ludicrous” by Aberdeen South and North Kincardine MSP Maureen Watt.
She said: “I fully support ensuring the safety of postmen and women, and nobody should experience violence while at work.
“This is an understandable action for Royal Mail to take to ensure the safety of their employees, but to ask the residents, who are not at fault for the attack, to make a five mile round trip at specific times to collect their post is ludicrous – especially when they live above a local post office.
“Residents were also upset at the wording of the letter, as it states they are expected to control a dog which does not belong to them.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We only suspend deliveries as a last resort when the safety of our staff is at risk.
“We apologise to customers for any inconvenience this has caused.
“The suspension will be lifted once we are reassured that sufficient measures have been put in place to secure the dog.”
