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10
Nov
Postmaster angry as new solar postboxes introduced in Harrogate district
A postmaster has claimed new solar-powered postboxes in the Harrogate district pose a threat to the future of local post offices.
Royal Mail is installing 3,500 ‘postboxes of the future’ across the UK.
They have solar panels on top that power a compartment in which people can deposit small parcels.
Royal Mail, which was bought by a Czech billionaire in December, claims the postboxes complement its other services but Andrew Hart, who operates post offices in Starbeck and Bilton, was unhappy when one appeared outside his premises on Starbeck High Street last week.
He said the postbox was installed on land within the curtilage of the post office “totally against our wishes and against our permission.
Mr Hart said:
This is an attempt by Royal Mail to limit our post office revenue and threaten the future of not just Starbeck Post Office but every post office in the country. I am amazed that the Royal Mail can do this without public consultation or planning permission.”
The saddest part of this is that the new postbox will not accommodate the beautiful post toppers produced by the ladies of the WI. What is happening to the world? Doesn’t heritage and community matter anymore? It is just dog eat dog.
The Starbeck postbox is expected to be out of use for three weeks during its transition.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said six postboxes in the HG1 and HG2 postcode areas are currently being upgraded and temporarily out of use.
The spokesperson added:
Our new postboxes of the future offer another convenient way for customers to access Royal Mail's services, alongside home delivery and collection, our customer service points, post office branches, lockers and Royal Mail shop outlets. We’re pleased to see positive feedback from customers in areas where the new postboxes have already been introduced, and we’re hopeful that local residents will find them just as useful and convenient.
We appreciate the passion and care that goes into the crocheting, knitting and decorating of toppers. With 115,000 postboxes across the UK, there are plenty that remain unaltered and that will remain the case in the future.
We informed Post Office Limited of the locations of the postboxes but, per our contract with Post Office, we are unable to contact postmasters directly. If a postmaster is able to provide documentary evidence showing ownership of a site, we will look into it.
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