Shropshire Star

Post box collection changes for Shropshire SY postcode branded 'crazy'

Collection times for post boxes across the SY postcode area are to be brought forward in a move today branded “crazy”.

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Royal Mail has confirmed that a number of post boxes in the SY area, which stretches from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and from Whitchurch to Ludlow, will be affected by the changes.

Under the proposal some post boxes will see final collection times change from 6pm, to “no earlier than 9am Monday to Friday,” and no earlier than 7am on a Saturday.

The situation has left some concerned about their ability to send First Class post for the next day, with one business owner warning of a two day wait for letters to reach clients.

Roy Munn, of Shrewsbury insurance company Darwin Direct and Darwin Financial Management, said: “It is just crazy, it is supposed to be a service industry.”

Two post boxes used by the St John’s Hill firm, at Bellstone and near to the Kingsland Bridge, will both see their collection times shortened.

Mr Munn said: “It will detract from our efficiency because it will take two days to get a letter to anyone First Class.

“At the moment I know if there is something urgent it will likely get delivered the next day. I have no complaints about the postal service.”

Royal Mail said it is making the changes because of the decline in the number of people sending post.

However, Mr Munn said that the changes would lead to more people using e-mail more often.

He added: “Why be loyal to Royal Mail if they are not loyal to us?”

Royal Mail spokesperson, Morag Turnbull, said: “We can confirm that some low-use postboxes in the Shrewsbury (SY) area will change the time of their final collection, with the mail picked up by postmen and women as part of their delivery rounds. This will typically be between 9am and 3pm in urban and suburban areas Monday to Friday and no earlier than 7am on a Saturday. Customers can check if mail has been collected as the day indicator tab on the postbox will show the next day if the collection has been made.”

“These changes are driven by a significant decline in letter volumes that means many postboxes no longer cover their costs. Instead of taking the step to decommission uneconomic postboxes, Royal Mail has introduced changes to its collections arrangements.

“We would like to reassure all our customers in the Shrewsbury area that we will retain a high level of access to late collection posting facilities (4pm or later) locally. Notices will be displayed on affected boxes to give customers notification of these planned changes, as well as information about boxes with a later final collection time. These boxes include business boxes as well as those outside Post Office branches or our mail centres and delivery offices. There will be no impact or changes to mail deliveries in this area.”