Committee member Peter Wallace writes:
The shabbiest post box in Belsize Park has been given a new solar-powered lease of life !
This, in Lancaster Grove, is the first of several coming to Belsize Park after successful trials outside London.
Spotted during the latest of Belsoc’s popular local history walks in September, it caused outrage from one member as she tapped the box’s plastic top with disgust: “You can’t play around with London’s traditional post boxes – this is terrible”.
It’s true the top looks a bit tacky but power for all the mechanics involved comes from the solar panel on top, good news for the environment.
There is still a nice wide mouth for letters.
Royal Mail officials say the new boxes are a response to a decline in letter-sending and an increase in parcel traffic with competition from other providers.
How does the new system work ?
- At home, first measure the weight and size of your parcel, it should be no bigger than a shoe box.
- Download the Royal Mail App on your mobile phone or, if using a computer, from the Royal Mail website.
- Input the dimensions and weight of the parcel.
- You’ll see the cost and you can select the service.
- After paying using a debit/credit card or other means, you’ll see a postage label – input the address you’re sending it to.
- The label will also have a barcode; now print off the label on a printer and attach it to the parcel.
- For proof of posting you must use the App to scan the barcode.
- Now head for the nearest parcel box.
Once there, wake up the scanner using the button. Scan the parcel’s barcode label onto the box’s scanner. The drawer will unlock for you to open for your parcel and then you close it. Your parcel will now show on your App as posted.
Without a printer you won’t be able to use this so then it’s still a trip to our helpful local post office in Kavanagh’s supermarket, Haverstock Hill (open 9-5pm Mon-Sat) or the new Swiss Cottage branch at MG Food, 7 Northways Parade, NW3 5EN open 9-5:30pm Mon-Sat.
Let’s see if this is a real-world improvement….
