I RECENTLY had to travel to the new Bolton West Delivery Office at Middlebrook to collect a parcel, which the postman had attempted to leave at my home but there was no one in at the time.

This service used to be available in Bolton town centre, but now the people of Westhoughton and Horwich have to travel to Middlebrook to collect undelivered post. Why it is called a delivery office and not a collection office is beyond me?

However, there are more serious issues to point out.

Anyone without their own transport would have the most difficult task in collecting undelivered mail. For instance there are no direct trains from Westhoughton to Middlebrook - you have to travel via Bolton. Even the walk from the Parkway Station at Middlebrook to the Delivery Office is a trek of nearly three quarters of a mile.

There is a very high probability that the reason you were not at home when the mail was delivered would be due to the fact you were working. The delivery office opening hours are 7am-1.30pm weekdays and 7am-12.30pm on Saturday. You would still have no opportunity to call in and collect.

I have no doubt someone was congratulated for thinking of the idea of placing this public facility where it is. The trouble is they have no concept of what constitutes a public service.

Peter Sloan

Bankside

Westhoughton