Owen Temple

I’ve been out today delivering Focus leaflets (yes, I know it was snowing) and faced the usual problems which those of you who have never leafletted simply won’t realise.

A traditional heavy brass gravity flap like this one will be a joy to use, and probably has an elegant flap behind it that allows itself to be lifted smoothly by the Focus leaflet which then sails effortlessly into the hallway, headline up, to attract the homeowner’s attention.

This Spring loaded brute, however, will make every effort to gin-trap your hand, and will almost certainly have a leaflet-destroying brush on the other side to make sure that your Focus leaflet looks as though its been through a shredder. What’s worse is that there’s probaly a Rottweiler on the other side of the brush, so more fool you if you try to get the leaflet right through the brush.

If this all seems like rather mindless musings - there is  a point to it.

What I noticed in particular was the appallingly poor quality of letter box fitted to many new houses, and I invite residents of Derwent Garden Village, Ash Grove and The Steadings to let me know their views. My own award for most unhelpul letterboxes goes to Derwent Garden Village, but after less than a year the number of broken letterboxes on Ash Grove, and the poor mechanisms of those that still have flaps, suggests that they should win the worst letterbox award.

Can anyone tell me whether there a minimum standards for these things? Or are housebuilders allowed to charge us the earth whilst skimping wherever they can?