Postal services to Tuffley suspended after dog attack on pos

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Postal services to Tuffley suspended after dog attack on postie

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MAIL delivery in Tuffley has come to an abrupt halt after a woman postie was attacked by a dog.

The boxer, which belongs to a 21-year-old in Emerald Close, bit her on the hand before chasing her down the street last week.

Now Royal Mail has stopped all deliveries to the square where the dog lives – and it has not said when they will restart.
Residents have been told they will have to make the 11-mile round trip to the Brockworth Distribution Centre to pick it up.

Emily Smith, of Emerald Close, said many residents are terrified of the dog and use the back doors of their homes to try and avoid coming into contact with it.

She said: "I used to leave my door open so the children could play outside. All the residents used to have little street parties but we feel we can't do that because the dog is always growling and running out of the house."

Felicity Faith, who lives just off the square in Russet Close, has been getting her mail but said: "When I walk my dog I am always on the lookout to see if the boxer is around. I should not have to walk the long way around the estate to visit my friends."

Those living in Emerald Close and part of Russet Close will not be getting their mail delivered until further notice.

Roger Fitzpatrick, 66, of Russet Close, said: "I am getting worried now because my gas bill is due and I always pay it straight away."

And Caroline Beresford, of Russet Close, added: "I am waiting for my tax disc. It would make more sense for us to collect our mail from the Quedgeley delivery office rather than drive to Brockworth. Many of the elderly residents are not able to do this."

Residents were notified about suspended deliveries to the properties with a letter from Royal Mail yesterday.

Pensioner Jane Taylor, of Emerald Close, said: "Why has it taken Royal Mail a week to notify us of what is happening? When they delivered the letter explaining we would not get our post delivered, they should have brought our other post with us.
"The family who owns the dog is friendly and polite but I believe it should have a muzzle on it."

Val Bodden, from Royal Mail, said: "Royal Mail can confirm that it has temporarily suspended deliveries to a number of addresses in Emerald Close and Russet Close following a dog attack on a delivery postwoman on September 25. We take the health and safety of our employees very seriously and we are seeking assurances from the dog owner that the dog in question will be kept secured while we undertake deliveries.

"This incident, a particularly nasty and frightening one for the postwoman, re-emphasises the messages we highlighted during our recent Dog Awareness Week, about the need for dog owners to ensure their pets are under control. The police are also investigating the incident.

"We apologise to affected customers and would like to assure them that we are working with the dog owner to resolve the situation."
A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said: "We were called to a report of an aggressive dog in the Tuffley area at around 11am last Wednesday. A postal worker suffered a bite to the hand during the incident. The situation was resolved when the dog was returned to the control of its owner in Emerald Close.

"Officers spoke to the owner, a 21-year-old man, who stated that the side gate had been left open by mistake.

"Strong words of advice were given but inquiries are ongoing into the incident. We are not aware of any previous reports to police about the dog."

No one came to the door at the dog owner's home.