Although a public consultation removed 14 endangered postboxes from a list of 94 flagged to close, 80 will be sealed up, leaving just 59, all of which will have revised collection times.
Dawn Gallienne, head of corporate engagement at Guernsey Post, said a few boxes would be closed every day over the course of next week.
‘Our maintenance teams will be working their way around the island, putting metal plates over the apertures,’ she said. ‘They will of course empty the box of any mail and install the new information plate, advising where the nearest alternative box is located.
‘They will also be visiting all the boxes remaining open and changing the information plates on them to reflect the new collection times. All this work should be completed by Friday 7 November.’
The company announced that all but one of the postboxes to be closed will remain physically in place, partly for heritage reasons, with the timed collection information on some being replaced with plates that share their historical stories.
‘We’re currently researching the heritage stories behind each box and want to take the time to get this right,’ said Mrs Gallienne.
‘The permanent historical plates will be installed next year.’
Six of the 14 boxes taken off the list earmarked for closure were in St Peter Port.
St Peter Port constable Diane Mitchell said she was glad with those that had been saved in the parish but would have liked to see even more taken off the list of this closing.
‘We are pleased with the ones saved as they are in the right places,’ she said. ‘But as a douzaine we were only allowed to make one representation about one box, just like a person. I felt the consultation should have allowed more of a multiple choice.
‘Thankfully the one we requested as a douzaine and also the one I highlighted personally were both reprieved.’
Consultation outcome ‘a big step forward’ - Postbox historian
A local amateur postbox historian has broadly welcomed Guernsey Posts decision to keep 14 more postboxes open and that only one would be permanently removed.
Stephen Orme had written to all deputies when the original closures were announced with a passionate plea that the boxes should be saved.
‘Originally, they gave the impression that they were going to take them out and auction them off,’ he said.
‘The fact that all but one is going to be left in place is a big step forward.
‘When you consider some are Victorian, generally it’s only churches that have lasted longer.
‘Over the years, they’ve had all sorts of letters posted through, some sad, so they’ve seen a lot of memories, so it would be a shame for them to go to go completely.’
He also welcomed the announcement that some would have historical information added.
‘People who perhaps don’t know the history will then be able to go and read about it,’ said Mr Orme.
‘However, on the other hand, they are contradicting themselves, because they’re saying they are closing them because nobody’s going to them, well, if nobody’s going to the postbox, nobody’s going to read the information.
‘Closing postboxes is a bit of a vicious circle.
‘If you close too many, people aren’t going to make a special journey to post something, they’ll give up on it, and there will be even less post.’
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