FED-UP residents in north Swindon are angry that they have to walk for up to an hour to post a letter.

There are just two postboxes north of Thamesdown Drive and residents say if they have no transport, they can face an hour’s round trip to the nearest one.

A petition has been set up by prospective council candidate for Priory Vale, Toby Elliot, calling for more postboxes to be installed in the area, ideally in Redhouse.

Toby said: “We have been out and about in the ward asking people their views on a whole range of subjects.

“One issue that has come up frequently is the lack of postboxes in Priory Vale.

“From speaking to Royal Mail I have been informed that if there is shortage of post boxes in an area it is up to the residents to prove a need for one.”

Resident Judith Scholes said: “There are only two post boxes north of Thamesdown drive, the one on Oakhurst Way and one at the bottom of St Andrews Ridge at the bottom of Pennine Way just round the corner from The Blunsdon Arms.

“It’s certainly a long walk between the two so one in the middle, say by the Redhouse shops or on Eastbury Way would really help.”

Karen Strickland, of Redhouse, said: “I believe we need one at Redhouse village centre as it is the hub of the Redhouse community.

“It’s pointless to walk to Tesco to buy a card then walk in completely the opposite direction to post it on Oakhurst Way.”

Laura Large, of Haydon End, said there was a definite need for more postboxes.

She said: “In an area where there are so many homes that have been established for such a long time, it’s shocking that there’s not more.

“Not all of us drive so posting a letter means an hour’s round trip on foot with the kids for me. son doesn’t walk fast.

“It would be nice to have a post office but I don’t ever see it happening especially when they are closing others down around the country.”

Toby added: “I can’t see a post office being opened up on its own, but I will more than happily ask local businesses if they could see a benefit in conducting some post office services, if not all of them.”

Coun Vera Tomlinson said: “We have already applied for a postbox at the Redhouse Village Centre and I am pretty confident our application will be successful.

“The petition is to show where the greatest need is within other areas of the ward, then they will also make an application.”

Royal Mail spokeswoman Valerie Antoine said: “The provision of posting boxes is based on the density of the population in the area and the existing posting facilities, alongside the mail volumes being posted.”

To sign the petition, visit http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/postboxes4pv/.