Tag: Royal Mail

Post Office Ltd opened a six-week local public consultation on its Area Plan for Merseyside, Wirral, Cheshire, Wigan, Leigh and Makerfield with the criteria and factors set by the Government in its Response Document (DTI The Post Office Network, Government response to public consultation May 2007 – www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page36024.html). The Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office services through a network of 371 branches across the area including six outreach service points while 65 existing branches would close (see full list below).

Under the proposals, more than 99 pct of the area’s population will either see no change, or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

The six outreach services would use innovative ways to continue to provide Post Office services- particularly in smaller communities – where the existing branch is proposed for closure.

Possible types of outreach service in the Merseyside, Wirral, Cheshire, Wigan, Leigh and Makerfield area could include a mobile service visiting small communities at set times, a hosted service operated within a third party premises for restricted hours each week, or a partner service within the premises of a local partner such as a pub landlord.

Royal Mail is gearing up for its busiest time of the year, handling an anticipated over 2 billion letters and cards during the festive period.

Royal Mail predicts Monday 17 December to be its busiest day of the year. 123 million items are expected to enter the system that day compared to an average daily figure of 83 million.

The last recommended posting dates for UK mail are Thursday 20 December for 1st Class and Monday 17 December for 2nd Class items. For Special Delivery items, the last recommended posting date is 22 December. For airmail items to Western Europe, the last recommended posting date is 13 December; for Eastern Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan it is 10 December; and the rest of the world is 7 December.

Royal Mail is releasing millions of new stamps well in time for all last posting dates. Available from today (6th November) in 1st Class, 2nd Class, 78p and GBP 1.24 values, the stamps depict angels and the Madonna & Child. The angels 1st and 2nd Class Christmas stamps are available in two sizes so that people can use the angelic images on Large Letters, parcels and packets this Christmas.

Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, Royal Mail, said: “Christmas is most certainly Royal Mail’s busiest time of year, but luckily we have plenty of experience in dealing with the postbag upsurge.