Changes to Last Posting Times for the links Estate

LERA member Michael Dobbs has sent us the following message:-

This morning I posted some letters in the post box in Portland Road. It was only after posting them that I noticed a new collections plate showing revised collection times:

Monday to Friday: 9.00 am

It also states that there is a 4.00 pm or later collection time at the post box in New Street Hill

Saturday: 7.00 am

This is a considerable change to previous collections times - now you must ensure (if not an early riser) that you have items for posting placed in the Portland Road post box the night before. I wonder if this is the first step in eventually closing that post box, just leaving us with the one at the junction of New Street Hill / Oak Tree Gardens.

Regards, Michael

I have checked with Royal Mail and their website states that the changes are an "improvement" as shown below:-

What changes are taking place and why?

We are improving the level of public access to postboxes in areas of under-provision, by adding around 2,000 boxes to the 115,000 we currently have. 45,000 to 50,000 low-use boxes will move to ‘collection on delivery’ with the postman or woman emptying the box on their round, rather than providing a dedicated collection by van. No postboxes will be removed from service as a result of this initiative.

When is all the change happening?

We started making changes in September 2014 (October in Scotland). We fixed a notification label to all boxes that are going to be ‘Collected on Delivery’ at least four weeks before the planned changes. New box plates should start to appear throughout the Autumn as the changes are rolled out. These will show the new collection times and the location of alternative, later-collection boxes.

There is more information at the Royal Mail Website at:- royalmail.com/postboxes-faqs