Postie petition fails and Darren moves

CAMPAIGNING Martlesham Heath residents have been forced to admit defeat in their battle to keep their popular postie.

For eight years Darren Fitch, 36, delivered post to around 400 homes on estates in Martlesham Heath.

During that time he managed to strike up a special relationship with the people on his round. So much so that when they heard that he might be transferred to another area they sprung into action and launched a petition against the move. This was signed by almost 300 residents.

Despite presenting it to the chief executive of Consignia, plans to transfer Darren, who is married with two children, went ahead regardless.

One of the campaigners, Alison Hewitt, of Swan Lane, said: "Obviously we feel disappointed but we did our best. The people I spoke to at the post office made me think that we were fighting a losing battle though."

She added: "Three or four of us got up the petition up. We thought that if we did something and it didn't work, at least we had done something."

"The fact is that he knew where everyone lived and would know where the post should go. When we had replacement cover while he was on holiday the post would sometimes go astray."

"We felt as a community that we did not want to lose him because he wasn't just a postman, he was a friend as well. He always had time to chat and I don't think he realised how popular he was."

Darren has no specific round to work on any longer and is now a reserve floating postman.

A spokeswoman for Consignia said: "There was no specific reason why Darren was moved. We know that Darren was a really great post man and that he is really popular, but unfortunately we have had to make operational changes in the interests of profitability and the continuing good service to our customers."

"We did take into account the 300 person petition, but it is not really going to have an impact because it was an operational decision made a long time ago."

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