Human waste outside Royal Mail office sparks 6ft fence plan

After several incidents of excrement and drug paraphernalia being found outside the delivery office in North Road, the company wants to sort the issue once and for all.

It has applied to Brighton and Hove City Council to double the height of an existing 3ft fence, with secure gates, as the current fence is not able to “keep antisocial behaviour from occurring on the property”.

READ MORE: Brighton residents make plea over Royal Mail offices

The application said: “Royal Mail have continually experienced damage, graffiti and anti-social behaviour.

“Unfortunately, there is a history of anti-social behaviour in this area and Royal Mail have had to continually spend time and money repairing deliberate acts of vandalism.

“There have been several incidents where human faeces, drug paraphernalia and other hazardous materials have been sprawled across the access and egress routes of the Delivery Office.”

The Royal Mail say the current fencing is not sufficient to secure the office (Image: NQ) It said: “Additionally, during the recent summer of 2024 a four person tent was erected on the doorstep of the building outside a main fire exit route where over 100 people could use at any one time in the event of an evacuation incident.”

Putting forward its argument to planning bosses, Royal Mail said: “The proposal to install a 6ft metal fence and electronic access control gates in an external location of the Royal Mail Delivery Office on North Road, Brighton, will marginally affect the appearance of the
property but not in a negative way.

“This new fence line will provide confidence to Royal Mail staff and the general
public that antisocial behaviour is not tolerated or accepted on Royal Mail property.

“The new access control gates will allow employees to safely enter the building on a working day and will ensure that fire exists are kept clear so in the event of a fire or other evacuation event, access will be free and clear.

“Every attempt will be made to make the fencing visually neutral with the Delivery Office building and its external appearance.”

The application was validated on December 6 and subject to a consultation that is due to end on Friday 27 December.

One resident voiced their support for the proposal on the application.

They said: “I support this application because the forecourt of the building has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour, it is in effect an open air drug den.”

Another said: “I support this application because it might reduce the antisocial behaviour that is taking place outside the Sorting Office and mean the drug dealers, drug takers and street drinkers may decide to go elsewhere.”