A WOMAN in Barnsley who hadn’t received post in more than two years has finally had an explanation from Royal Mail after being ‘shut out from the world’ with her disabled father.
Kirsty Clarke, 34, of Burn Place in New Lodge, had no post delivered after a dog attacked a postman on the street a couple of years prior.
She said: “A dog on this street attacked a postman and so the Royal Mail have decided we aren’t able to get our post like everyone else.
“It wasn’t my dog and yet we’re still being made to suffer, it’s not fair on me or my dad who I’m a full-time carer for.
“But because the dog is still here on the street, we’re being told that we aren’t allowed our post delivered, and it’s horrible and we’re really struggling.”
Kirsty’s dad, 54-year-old Barry Clarke, is disabled and unable to travel to the town centre on a regular basis to get his post, and as Kirsty looks after him full-time, she finds it hard to get the post like everyone else - something she admits has caused many problems.
“We’ve had companies ringing up and coming out to our property because they think we’re being fraudulent as we’re not responding to their letters - there’s no way I can get to the town all the time to get them, it’s not logical,” she added.
“Both me and my dad have had our bank accounts frozen because letters have bounced back to the bank, we’re really suffering without them.
“It’s wrong that this is happening, especially when it’s not our fault.”
Kirsty feels as though she is being shut out from the world, and due to the household not being able to use the internet, the gap between them and the outside world has grown greater.
“I don’t know how to use the internet, so I can’t receive emails or anything like that - we’re completely shut out from the world,” she added.
“We’re the only ones that are struggling on the street because people are getting mail for everyone else but we’re left without anything.
“I’m so frustrated and angry, why was it OK for me and my dad to suffer because of other people?”
Following an investigation by the Royal Mail, post will now be resumed on the street, after residents supplied evidence to the company that it is now a safe working environment.
A spokesman said: “We have recently carried out a visit and risk assessment and after speaking to the dog owner and their neighbours we are now satisfied that controls are in place and normal deliveries can now safely resume.
“Royal Mail treats all dog attacks on our postmen and women very seriously, and our first priority as an employer is to ensure the welfare and safety of our people who provide a valuable service to our customers.
“It is very distressing when one of our people is attacked by a dog while carrying out their job.
“Suspending deliveries is often a last resort, as we recognise the vast majority of dog owners are very responsible and keep their pets under control.
“We continue to appeal to dog owners and their families to help reduce the numbers of attacks, particularly at the door and in the garden.”
