Plans to remove post box because mail keeps being eaten by snails

The Royal Mail has applied to remove a post box because snails have been eating the post inside.

The post box has been a staple of Storrington, West Sussex, since the reign of George VI.

Construction consultancy Livemore applied to Horsham District Council, on behalf of Royal Mail, for permission to remove the post box on January 15.

“Please be informed that Royal Mail are proposing to remove the post box at the above address as animals are constantly entering the post box and eating the mail”, the application reads.

“The wall is privately owned and doesn’t appear to be within a conservation area.

“We trust the council has no objections to the proposed works taking place.”

It quoted the Royal Mail Statutory rights Schedule 6 of the Postal Services Act 2000.

Michael Beardsall, who lives next door to the post box, said that staff from the post office arrived three months ago to tape the box up.

Michael said: “They said you can’t post here anymore, because snails and small rodents were accessing the box and eating the post. They said that although they kept clearing it out, the snails kept coming back.

“We’re trying to send people to Mars and the post office’s answer to solving some snails in a post box is to rip it out.

“I find it very upsetting that people can’t think of a better solution.

“Post boxes are part of Britain’s fabric.”

He added: “You would think they [Royal Mail] would try to be helping rather than making it more difficult for people to post letters.”