A HOUSEHOLDER is fed up with post going astray because there are two almost identical addresses in his street.

David Carter lives at number 1 Stratford Road, Blacon, while just around the corner is another number 1 at a Chester & District Housing Trust property built eight years ago.

Technically the other house is in Stratford Gardens – but to the uninitiated, they have an identical number in the same street.

Mr Carter, 68, said: “I went to the council about it and said ‘How come there’s a new house been put up with the same number I’ve got?’.

“I said I wanted it changed, by putting an ‘A’ on it or whatever. They said they couldn’t do it because they would have to notify the fire, police and ambulance services. I said ‘Well do it!’ but they couldn’t care less.

“Post goes astray, that’s my biggest worry. I’ve been waiting four months to get my driving licence back because it was up for renewal.”

He recently had a doctor’s letter about missing an eye appointment yet he never received the original request. The former lorry driver also fears fire engines might be sent to the wrong address. “I could be dead. It’s ridiculous,” he added.

Cheshire West and Chester Council spokeswoman Laura Johnson said: “1 Stratford Gardens would have been named by the developer.

“It would then have been registered with the council in existence at that time who would have checked there were no issues with the Royal Mail and attempted to incorporate the number into the street.”

Miss Johnson said there shouldn’t be a problem providing each household used the correct address and postcode but advised Mr Carter to write to the council if he had further concerns.