Alcester residents baffled as Olympic gold postbox is blocked

Perteghella recognised in the letter that Royal Mail has permitted development rights, a legal exemption that allows it to install postboxes without prior approval, but said neither she nor the Stratford-on-Avon District Council had been consulted.

Nick Skelton, who lives in the town, won team jumping gold at the London Games before winning the individual jumping title at Rio 2016.

Residents said the gold postbox was a source of local pride, and they could not understand why the new parcel box was placed so close to it.

“The postbox has got a lot of meaning for the local people, and it’s a real shame that it has been covered up,” said Laurie-Mo Gullachsen.

“I think a bit more thought should have been put into this, and if they could listen to the community’s wishes for it to be moved, I think they should,” she added.

Her view was echoed by social media posts describing it as “yet more clutter blocking the pavement” and saying “it could have been put somewhere more discreet”.

“It’s a bit of an eyesore for such a lovely part of Alcester, having that for Nick Skelton being a gold medallist. It’s a shame it’s distracting from such a lovely part of the high street,” Matthew Stanley told the BBC.