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Since September 10, a big change has been spotted at the post box that has existed opposite The Swann Inn in The Street in Monks Eleigh for decades.
It has now been wrapped in black plastic ahead of being upgraded into a new solar-powered unit, in what Royal Mail says is the “biggest redesign in its 175-year history”.
The new design features a barcode scanner, which opens a drop-down drawer that is big enough to accommodate items as large as a shoebox.
However, Alan Branthwaite, chairman of Monks Eleigh Parish Council, said the shop and council were given “no prior warning” and only found out about it when the work was being done.
He said: “We have had some real concern about this.
“We are worried that they could be slowly replacing the post office with the post box and that would be a huge loss.
“We have amazing volunteers and the shop is a really valued resource which is vital to community life.”
The postbox has been dubbed the “Dalek” by some people in the village, due to its appearance and threat to the community shop.
This comes as the shop celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and has been making urgent calls for more volunteers to help run it.
Alan Line, the chairman of the shop, added: “There is definitely a concern that the post box is being put in the shady area of the road.
“We don’t know enough about how it will work to have strong thoughts on it, but there was no consultation with us at all.”
The new post box will also feature a barcode scanner, which opens a drop-down drawer, and customers can access it using the Royal Mail app, requesting proof of posting and tracking of their parcel.
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Our new postboxes of the future offer another convenient way for customers in Monks Eleigh and elsewhere to access Royal Mail’s services, alongside home delivery and collection, our Customer Service Points, Post Office branches, lockers and Collect+ Parcelshops.”
