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A Royal Mail postbox has been targeted by snails, leaving residents frustrated after the animals ate their post.
Neighbours in Heath Common, near Storrington in West Sussex, have been complaining after their postbox was infected with snails.
Due to the fact that any measures to stop small animals getting into the box would also prevent post being deposited there, Royal Mail is planning to remove it entirely.
The wall in which the box sits is owned by Caroline and Michael Beardsall. Caroline told Sussex News: “My husband actually wrote to The Times about ‘snail mail.'”
The postbox is set to be removed due to a snail invasion
PA/Google Maps
Michael, whose house and driveway stand behind the wall, added: ‘It’s such a shame because the postbox is part of the fabric of our village and is well-used.
“Once it has gone it has gone for good and won’t ever come back. There are ways of solving this problem with a little bit of thought. Perhaps Royal mail could install a secure backbox behind the frontage or even a sprung letter flap to stop snails getting in.
“Talk about taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut! Surely it is not beyond them to think of a solution instead of ripping out a century-old postbox.
“There are definitely ways of preserving this postbox and I would urge them to think again before tearing it out.”
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Horsham District CouncilGoogle MapsA planning application submitted to Horsham District Council said: “Livemore have been instructed to act on behalf of Royal Mail Group with regards to Street Furniture.
“Please be informed that Royal Mail are proposing to remove the post box at the address as animals are constantly entering the post box and eating the mail.
“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 under the Royal Mail Statutory rights Schedule 6 of the Postal Services Act 2000. We aim to instruct the works within the near future.”
A spokesman for Royal Mail added: ‘”he post box has been invested with small wildlife several times (snails etc) which are attracted to and eat letters posted in there.
“We have needed to routinely clean it out but have now made the decision to remove the post box itself, subject to approval.”
Its not the first time small animals have forced a postbox to close, as another postbox had to be taken out in Northumberland because snails had been getting inside and eating the post.
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