Postbox that survived ‘two World Wars and Covid’ closes due to snails eating mail

Two furious business owners contacted Royal Mail about the unusual closure of a postbox after a metal telecommunications pole was installed nearby in Marazion, Cornwall

Royal Mail postboxes in a quaint village have been forced to close, one due to an unlikely culprit – snails feasting on the mail.

The first closure in Marazion, Cornwall, occurred after a metal telecomms pole was installed near a postbox by Open Reach last March. Despite the postbox remaining operational since the pole’s installation, it was abruptly shut down earlier this month.

The reason? Health and safety concerns, according to Royal Mail, who claimed their staff could no longer safely retrieve mail from the box.

This explanation has been met with skepticism, with some arguing that access to the postbox remains unimpeded. Local town councillor Richard Stokoe decried the situation as “health and safety gone mad”. He pointed out that the postbox had operated without issue for over a century, surviving even “two World Wars and Covid”.

Stokoe found it “beyond baffling” that the new metal pole, which is further away from the postbox than the previous wooden one, could pose any health and safety risks. “Nobody can work out how there is any health and safety issues with an extra pole being sort of nearbyish,” he told Cornwall Live.

Mr Stokoe added: “If someone can get in to seal it all up then it must be fine to empty the bloody thing as well. Two World Wars and Covid didn’t stop it from being shut but a telephone pole further away than an existing one has ended its never ending ability to be open for business 24/7.”

In a twist of events that gives a whole new meaning to “snail mail”, business owners Liz and Charlotte, proprietors of the quaint Copper Spoon tea room, were left in shock as not one, but two post boxes in their village were sealed off. The closures have had a significant impact on their business, prompting them to lodge a complaint with Royal Mail.

The second post box, also sealed, bore a note stating “TEMP CLOSURE SNAILS EATING MAIL”, adding an element of the bizarre to the situation.

Responding to the duo’s complaint, Royal Mail cited health and safety concerns as the reason for the initial closure, explaining that a pole had been erected in front of the post box, obstructing access. They expressed hope to resolve the issue within a lengthy 25-week timeframe.

A staff member from Royal Mail said: “I’m sorry to learn that one of our post boxes is currently sealed and I appreciate the inconvenience caused. I’ve therefore reported the details to the relevant Collections Planning Manager to resolve this issue.” They added: “The manager has advised that the post box has been sealed due to health and safety concerns, as a pole has been erected in front of the box. As a result, we have been unable to fully access the box to ensure mail can be collected.”

The response concluded with a promise of investigation and maintenance, albeit without a specific timeline, stating, “Additionally, the manager will investigate with the relevant maintenance team to ensure the necessary work is carried out. Regrettably, we’re unable to provide a specific timeframe for this work to be completed; however, we do aim to resolve issues of this nature within 25 weeks.”

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