Royal Mail suspends delivery for hundreds of customers after alleged assault of postman on rounds

A spokesman for Police Scotland confirmed: "Enquiries are ongoing following a report of a man assaulted on Carrick Road, Bishopton, on Wednesday, February 25."

The postal service has taken the unusual step of suspending deliveries to multiple addresses in the area, citing concerns for staff safety in the wake of what it described as a "serious incident of abuse" against one of its employees.

Residents living on Carrick Road, Craighead Road, Almond Drive, Cawdor Crescent, Morar Crescent, Yarrow Crescent, Teviot Drive and Ettrick Drive have all been affected by the suspension.

Those impacted have received correspondence from Royal Mail's customer operations manager informing them of the temporary arrangements now in place.

For the foreseeable future, householders in these areas must travel to the Erskine Delivery Office, located on Rashielee Avenue, to pick up their letters and parcels.

The postal service has indicated that anyone who cannot make the journey to collect their mail should contact Royal Mail directly to discuss alternative solutions until normal service can be restored to their addresses.

"I hope you can understand that this exceptional step has been taken in order to safeguard Royal Mail employees," the correspondence stated.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "The wellbeing of our colleagues is our highest priority and we will take the necessary steps to ensure their safety at work".

In its letter to affected households, Royal Mail stated that the danger of continuing deliveries to these properties had become "unacceptably high" due to the "threat of further customer abuse" following the assault.

The company emphasised that this measure, while exceptional, was necessary to protect its workforce from potential harm.

The organisation confirmed it is collaborating with police and will assess what measures are required before normal postal rounds can safely recommence.

Local Conservative councillor James MacLaren, who represents the Bishopton ward, said he has been contacted by numerous residents seeking answers about the disruption to their postal services.

The councillor expressed frustration at the way Royal Mail had handled communications with local elected officials regarding the situation.

"I would have liked to have seen Royal Mail contacting the councillors to let them know what's happening, instead of us having to learn about it third-hand and being left in the dark about it," he said.

His comments highlight concerns about the lack of direct engagement between the postal operator and community representatives, leaving councillors unable to properly inform or assist their constituents during the ongoing service suspension.

Typically, Royal Mail only limit postal services due to extreme circumstances, such as adverse weather conditions such as snow, icy conditions, or flooding.

The service may sometimes be unable to safely access certain streets or addresses, resulting in the temporary adjustment or pause to services in those areas.