IT IS not often that one gets a response to a letter printed in the Oxford Mail so it was a pleasant surprise to find our local postman call at my home to offer his apologies for the poor service I experienced lately.

It appears that the recruitment of postmen and postwomen to serve this area is difficult.

The badly maintained roads, pathways, steps and overgrown hedges are a deterrent as it makes the work cumbersome, especially when carrying a heavy postbag.

I can appreciate his comments as many years ago I did a stint of delivery work for the Post Office during the Christmas break. I found that other than the hazards mentioned, pushing letters etc through letter boxes with strong letter plate springs were a menace. I doubt that management were aware of these obstacles when planning the rounds the postmen/women should take.

I hope that highlighting some of the problems facing the postal service that the new management will realise that, should any cutbacks be necessary, it would be at top level and not at the point of delivery.

VIM RODRIGO
Rivermead Road
Rose Hill, Oxford