MP stands up for elderly residents after stolen post box

After a local post box was stolen, residents at Battersby Court supported accommodation will be getting their outgoing post collected directly, following an intervention by MP Lisa Smart.

The post box, at Old Hall Drive in Offerton, was stolen during the summer, and after an investigation, Post Office Ltd asked local residents to use a post box further away at Lisburne Lane. But for residents at Battersby Court that meant they had to walk around three times as far – a challenge for those with mobility issues.

The Post Office have now confirmed that local posties will collect stamped, addressed mail directly from the Battersby Court site for delivery.

The MP for Hazel Grove constituency, Lisa Smart, said: “It’s not the residents’ fault that this post box was stolen, but they were the ones that were being inconvenienced by it.

“Initially, Post Office Ltd simply referred them on to the post box further away, and it was only when I went back to them to say that was not good enough that they confirmed an alternative service for the care home residents.”

The MP also helped the court manager with posters to make sure that the residents of the care home were aware of the service.

Lisa added: “It’s the job of an MP to take up people’s concerns, whether it’s a national policy, or a more local issue. For the residents who had got in touch with us, this was really causing them problems, and I’m delighted that we’ve made a difference for them.”