Royal Mail to make change thousands will notice across the UK this Christmas

Thousands of Britain’s iconic red post boxes are being swapped out, with more than 3,000 modern pillar boxes being introduced nationwide. Royal Mail’s initiative represents an effort to modernise, as the nation’s symbolic post boxes experience their most dramatic transformation in 175 years.

These updated models are being championed as “post-boxes for the future”, with one resident from a UK coastal town remarking they resemble “something out of space”. Throughout Britain, Royal Mail’s beloved red post boxes are being substituted with a more modern design – this has already taken place in certain locations, with additional areas scheduled for conversion ahead of Christmas.

Nevertheless, this has prompted numerous residents, living where the post-box transformation has already taken place, to ask one question: “where is the knitted post-box topper going to go?” The revamped pillar boxes will feature solar panels mounted on the post-box roof, eliminating space for the customary woollen post box toppers that are regularly positioned on the traditional letter boxes to commemorate special events, seasons – and particularly during Christmas.

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Yet, the solar panel proves essential, functioning alongside the new post-box’s integrated parcel scanner, enabling users to scan and dispatch their bulkier items without requiring a trip to a Post Office, reports the Mirror.

However, in some historic areas, locals have labelled the decision to replace the traditional red post box as “madness”. In Plymouth’s historic Barbican area, the classic letter box is due for a contemporary upgrade. The familiar posting box has been covered in black plastic film, with a sign stating “out of service, automated system coming soon”.

One shop owner commented: “The Barbican is a historic area, it should remain that as much as possible.” Another local resident described it as “really sad” to see the traditional design being replaced, while elsewhere in Britain, people have praised the updated letterboxes as “very useful” and “ideal”.

Despite their futuristic appearance, the revamped versions will maintain their iconic red colour. These redesigned post-boxes will allow customers to conveniently post packages up to shoebox size. Royal Mail’s new design draws inspiration from a Victorian-era style, incorporating modern-day features.

Royal Mail clarified that customers can now scan a barcode via their app to open a drop-down drawer, specifically designed for parcels too large to fit through the conventional slot. There’s a dedicated slot for letters and cards, and a solar panel powers the scanner and parcel drawer.

The post-boxes underwent trials in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire throughout April before being rolled out across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with metropolitan areas getting the updated letterboxes initially.

Jack Clarkson, managing director of out of home and commercial excellence at Royal Mail, said: “We are all sending and returning more parcels than ever before. This trend will only continue as online shopping shows no signs of slowing, particularly with the boom of second-hand marketplaces.

“There are 115,000 post-boxes in the UK located within half a mile of 98% of addresses, making them by far the most convenient network of parcel drop-off points in the UK.

“Our message is clear, if you have a Royal Mail label on your parcel, and it fits, put it in a postbox and we’ll do the rest.”

Nevertheless, not every conventional post box will receive an upgrade. Some traditional-style letterboxes are anticipated to remain in place in more remote locations for the time being.