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Tower block mail stopped after threats to postman

BBC High rise tower block, taken from below looking upBBC
Clyde Tower in East Kilbride houses 114 flats

The Royal Mail has stopped deliveries to a Lanarkshire tower block after threats were made to two postal worker by a tenant with a dog.

Residents of Clyde Tower in East Kilbride received a letter advising them that mail would now have to be collected at their nearest post office - a mile away.

Royal Mail said a resident had threatened postal workers - following one through the building while they made their deliveries.

South Lanarkshire Council said it was investigating the matter.

Clyde Tower residents have now been told they must collect mail at the post office between 08:00 - 10:00 with a valid photo ID.

But some said they do not have an ID or struggled to attend during the specified times.

Exterior of a high rise block with glass door entryway and a white sign overhead reading "Clyde Tower"
Residents were told mail must be collected from their local Post Office

Royal Mail said they said they had taken an "exceptional" step in order to safeguard employees.

They said Police Scotland had been informed about the incident.

A spokesperson said: “We take the welfare of our posties very seriously and, where necessary, will take steps to ensure their safety.

"We will continue to assess the current exemption however, it is our priority that posties are able to carry out their duties without fear of violence.”

A letter on white paper. The text is in black. A finger can be seen holding the letter at the bottom. The Royal Mail logo is in black and white in the top right corner.
A letter sent to residents warned post had been stopped in order to protect the safety of staff

The move comes after an incident in May saw deliveries cancelled on one floor of the block.

It was extended to the whole building after a second incident with the tenant and dog last month.

One resident told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime they felt the neighbour involved was "holding the block to ransom".

Another said: "I don’t blame the Royal Mail, I think they are 100% correct.

"Everybody should be able to go about their job without getting threatened although it is inconvenient, especially for the elderly people that are here.

“It is nobody’s fault, apart from whoever it was that caused the problem.

"If it is something that’s as serious as what they are telling us, the police should be involved."

Another resident said her family now refuse to bring their grandchildren to visit the block.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said: "I'm a dog person but this dog lunges at you and the owner encourages it, they should be able to control the dog.

"These are high rise council flats, the dog shouldn't be here anyway - the agreement with the council says they're not allowed."

South Lanarkshire Council guidelines say pets are only allowed in flats with four or more storeys under exceptional circumstances.

Clyde Tower has 19 storeys, housing 114 flats. Calder Tower, an identical high-rise opposite, continues to receive mail.

Craig Jardine, South Lanarkshire Council's head of property services, said: "We are aware of the situation in Clyde Tower and are currently conducting a robust investigation into the matter."