Village to get post service back

Royal Mail said Booze's narrow lanes posed a safety risk

A remote hamlet in the Yorkshire Dales is set to have its postal service restored after the local council agreed to pay for road improvements.

Royal Mail stopped deliveries to Booze, in Arkengarthdale, because it said the narrow track leading to people's homes was too hazardous for its workers.

The move meant 11 households had to travel 30 miles to collect their mail.

Royal Mail said deliveries would resume once it had assessed the improvements to passing places on the route.

John Fort, executive member for highways for North Yorkshire County Council, said deliveries were likely to resume on 1 September.

Back injury

He said: "We were determined to take swift action to minimise any disruption to postal services.

"Access to services for rural communities is a key concern for the council and I am pleased to see that the Post Office is now prepared to reconsider its assessment of the access to Booze."

Councillor John Blackie, who represents the residents of Booze, said the works the council were doing were "very minor in comparison to the huge loss the residents felt" when their postal service was stopped.

Royal Mail stopped the service last month after a risk assessment concluded the mile-long track to Booze was too dangerous.

It said the track was too narrow for mail vans and was so steep that postmen and women could be left with a long-term back injury if they delivered mail on foot.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "Any improvements to access roads in the Booze area are welcomed by Royal Mail and when completed we will reassess the situation and recommence deliveries if we are satisfied there is no further health and safety risk to our delivery staff."