Christmas postbox closure in Barton-upon-Humber ‘disappointing’

A postmistress says a decision to temporarily close a postbox outside her branch weeks before Christmas is “disappointing”.

Mairi Wingate and staff at the Barton-Upon-Humber Post Office said they arrived for work on Friday to find the postbox outside the shop covered over.

Ms Wingate said: “It could have been timed a bit better, to have maybe been done after the Christmas rush was over.”

Royal Mail has confirmed the postbox is being upgraded to include solar panels and a digitally-activated drawer, allowing customers to deposit small parcels.

In August, Royal Mail announced it would install 3,500 of the new solar-powered postboxes which it said was the “biggest redesign in its 175-year history”.

Ms Wingate said she feared the temporary closure could lead to less interaction between customers and her staff.

“I suppose the negative impact is that we don’t get the chance to engage with the customers, and they don’t get the chance to engage with us,” she said.

“Because customers are putting parcels in the box, the box is going to be full. If people just want to put ordinary letters in, they may have to then come and queue to hand the letters over to us.

“It’s a waste of their time.”

Ursula Vickerton, 69, has lived in the market town for 40 years and said she was “against” the upgrade.

She said: “I don’t think think it should be taped up at this time. I don’t think there’s any need for it.

“There is a much smarter post office steps away.”

In other areas of the UK, concerns have been raised the upgraded boxes could put a stop to elaborate yarn bombers who have decorated the structures.

Alison Roberts has knitted woolly toppers in Barton-upon-Humber for six years and said: “It makes me sad because I know that it brings a lot of joy to people.

“It [yarn bombing] just makes people smile, and it makes you feel part of the community.”

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said they had received “positive feedback” where they new boxes had been installed and hoped “residents will find them just as useful and convenient”.

They 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.”