Hundreds of Welsh postal staff suffer over dog attacks

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DELIVERING mail to people across Wales can be a hazardous task, as 140 postmen and women will bear testament.

Last year alone, they all fell foul of dog attacks leading in some cases for some services to be suspended because of the situation.

Problems have been experienced on Zoar Road in Ystalyfera after a large mastiff on the loose attacked a postwoman.

It led to services being stopped temporarily for people living in the area and those in Canal Terrace being advised that they would have to collect their mail from the Pontardawe delivery office instead.

Figures show within the SA postcode area, which covers Swansea and includes Carmarthenshire, along with Neath Port Talbot, there were 19 attacks on postmen and women between April 2014 and March 2015.

Royal Mail spokeswoman Val Bodden said the service had called for action over the dog in the Swansea Valley in a bid to return the service back to normal.

She said: "Royal Mail can confirm that mail deliveries to residents in and around Zoar Road in Ystalyfera have been temporarily suspended following an incident on Monday with a large mastiff dog. The dog was already known to us and in July this year the owner responded to our request to install a box at the gate to enable the delivery person to deliver without entering the property.

"However, on Monday the dog was loose on neighbouring Prospect Place and the postwoman had to seek refuge.

"The incident has been raised with local police, the local dog warden and the local council and we are asking for their help in resolving this issue, so that we can resume deliveries as soon as it is safe for our people to do so.

"In the meantime, customers can collect their mail from Pontardawe delivery office on the production of relevant ID. Alternatively, they can contact us to make alternative arrangements to receive their mail.

"The safety and welfare of our staff is paramount and the suspension of delivery is always a last resort and we sincerely apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused by this temporary suspension. Dog attacks are a significant hazard faced by postmen and women on a daily basis.

"On average eight postmen and women a day are attacked by dogs across the UK with over 2,960 attacks taking place from April 2014 to April 2015, some leading to a permanent disabling injury. It is vital that our postmen and women are able to carry out their work safely and without any threats.

"Royal Mail's postmen and women deliver six days a week to more than 29 million addresses across the UK and dog attacks are a significant hazard.

"The organisation and the Communications Workers Union are continuing to work together to raise awareness of the reality of dog attacks and our main aim is to always prevent attacks.

"During the school holidays and in the summer months the level of attacks increases."