RESIDENTS have not received post this week because the Royal Mail is refusing to divert drivers around Oxford’s flood-affected roads.

Yesterday it emerged that the Botley Road area had been boycotted, leaving letters and parcels undelivered in the run up to Christmas.

And despite a promise by Royal Mail to clear a backlog from Tuesday, yesterday Kennington residents reported they still had not received their post.

Royal Mail also admitted that while Abingdon Road was closed it would not send its drivers out.

Kennington resident Tony Wapper said it had caused needless problems for his business and numerous others.

He said: “I took some mail down to the local post office, I saw 10 bags of mail not collected.

“When I spoke to the managers covering the area they said they couldn’t get to Kennington. It’s appalling.”

Mohammad Afzal owns the Nisa convenience store and Post Office in Abingdon Road and said Royal Mail had not been able to pick up post from him since Wednesday.

He said: “I definitely think the road should be opened now. It is stopping our deliveries and they couldn’t even pick up the post.”

Royal Mail spokesman Adrian Booth said: “The main road into Kennington was closed due to flooding and another access road is extremely busy as a result. We took the decision not to attempt collection of Kennington mail as congestion delays getting into Kennington by this alternative route would have delayed other mails.”

He said customers seeking advice should ring the Royal Mail helpline on 08457 740740.

  • Shopkeepers hit by the flooding in Abingdon Road are sending out a call to customers that they are still open.

Assistant manager of Go Outdoors, Tony Harris, said customers did not think shops along Abingdon Road were open, even if they were accessible.
He said there had been very few customers since Monday.