All's well as mail rush gets going

EVERYTHING is going according to plan as the pre-Christmas rush kicks in at Guernsey Post. The sorting office at Envoy House is already buzzing as a dedicated team of 167 postal staff works to ensure the smooth delivery of mail on the island's 68 rounds.

Posties work as hard as anybody in the island at this time of year ' all putting in extra hours to cope with the volume of mail.

'The real pressure starts this weekend when there is an increase in the volume of mail into and leaving the island,' said Guernsey Post marketing director Jo de Garis.

'However, we have already seen an increase in the number of parcels being received, which are 50% up on last year as more and more island residents order their presents online,'

Guernsey Post is not taking on additional staff this Christmas and has not done so for a number of years.

In the past, freelance 'strappers' used to boost the team during the busy period.

'We have an extensive planning process in place at this time of year and have every confidence that the delivery of all mail in Guernsey will go well again this Christmas,' said Mrs de Garis.

Boley Smillie, head of letters and parcels, added: 'There is always good camaraderie at this time of year, particularly among postal staff who work ten-and-a-half-hour days for much of December to ensure that the mail is cleared daily,' he said.

'The planning process is the same as last year.

'It's early days but everything is going according to plan.'

Although the heavy seasonal workload is nothing new for most postal staff, it is for a few staff, including Chris Hannis, 39, who joined on 14 November and who works in processing in the sorting office.

But he is looking forward to the rush.

'This is my fourth week and it's all a big learning curve.

The good thing about starting this time of year is you're in at the deep end and you have to learn quickly,' he said.

'You have not got time to think about it and you just have to get on. It's so busy and time goes so quick.'

The company starts planning for the festive season early in the year and the design and development process for Christmas 2006 stamps is already under way.

Operational planning for the Christmas period starts in early September as some of the latest recommended posting dates for surface mail to some non-European destinations are as early as 1 October.

Guernsey Post is reminding customers to put postcodes on all their mail, even local post, and ensure parcels are properly wrapped and insured at the time of posting.

Details of the sender on the reverse are particularly important for parcels.

* Today marks the start of the posting period for Christmas cards under 100gm at the special 20p rate.

The stamps went on sale on Friday 25 November and the last valid date for the rate is Friday 16 December. After that the full 26p must be paid.

Further information can be found at www.guernseypost.com or by telephoning customer services on 726241.