Anger over dog poo put in Doncaster post box

Royal Mail bosses were forced to take action after vandals put dog waste inside a Doncaster post box.
Andy Pickering, newly elected councillor. Picture: Marie CaleyAndy Pickering, newly elected councillor. Picture: Marie Caley
Andy Pickering, newly elected councillor. Picture: Marie Caley

Officials fitted a restrictor – an attachment to make it more difficult for people to drop inappropriate items into the box – after the incident which has been described as ‘disgusting’.

But the attachment meant residents were unable to put anything other than letters into the box.

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A Royal Mail spokesman said: “The restrictor had been fitted on the opening of this box after dog mess was posted in it, making it much more difficult for vandals to post unsavoury items which both damage the mail and create unsafe and unpleasant working conditions for the postmen and women who empty it.

“We will continue to monitor the situation but are happy to report that there have been no issues since the restrictor was removed last week.

“If a similar incident takes place again then we will have to consider refitting it to protect the mail and our staff.”

Mexborough ward Coun Andy Pickering said he was pleased the restrictor had been removed.

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He said: “The restrictor was put on before the post office closed, about four months ago.

“It wasn’t too bad when the post office was still open because you could just nip inside with your large letters, but it became difficult after the post office shut.

“There are a few other post boxes around, but not many, and there are quite a few pensioners in the area who don’t want to walk for 10 minutes to another one.

He said of the dog mess: “You have to condemn the person who has done this. I do believe it is just one person because I can’t imagine more than one person would do something so disgusting.

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“I am very pleased to hear the restrictor has been removed and I hope this is the end of the problem.”

Residents who use the post box on Pym Road took to Facebook to complain that they could not fit larger letters in to the post box because of the restrictor.