Guernsey Post has confirmed it is closing tens of post boxes across the island as it tries to maintain services as fewer letters and cards are sent by mail.
The island-wide network of post boxes will be reduced from 142 to 59 following GPL’s recent public consultation.
The utility said closing 83 post boxes will ensure services remain “efficient, sustainable and fit for the future”.
Guernsey Post Chief Executive Steve Sheridan thanked the 500+ people who responded to the consultation saying the feedback helped to save 14 of the boxes originally earmarked for closure.
“We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to share their views during the consultation,” he said. “Every response was carefully considered and played a key role in shaping the final decision. We believe the revised network offers a sensible balance between customer accessibility and operational efficiency, ensuring postal services remain sustainable for the future.”
Guernsey Post has been battling changing demands for its services over recent years, with the popularity of online shopping meaning delivering parcels takes up more time than collecting and delivering letters.
Letter volumes in Guernsey have declined by nearly 60% over the last 10 years, said GLP, including a 15% drop compared to last year alone.
But some people rely on the post network for communication, and of those who responded to the consultation, just under 60% expressed concern about the convenience and accessibility of their nearest post box. In response, Guernsey Post has retained over a third of the boxes linked to those concerns, Mr Sheridan said.
Some boxes attracted fewer individual responses, but where “important” or “valid” points were raised, GPL has responded, it said – such as Box 125 at The Longstore, which was highlighted for its 24-hour accessibility.
Mr Sheridan said different reasons were given by people wanting to save post boxes – with just under 30% of respondents concerned about the loss of the heritage and landmark value of some of them.
“We understand how important the blue Guernsey post box is to our island’s heritage, and we are committed to preserving that legacy,” said Mr Sheridan. “As part of this, we will be replacing the timed collection plates with plaques that share the historical stories behind selected boxes, such as the one at Fort Road, which we now know still bears visible damage from bullet holes during the Occupation. These stories are an important part of our community’s history, and we want to ensure they’re not lost”.
A full list of the post boxes that will remain in service is available at guernseypost.com/postboxes.
All remaining post boxes will have updated collection times, which will be clearly displayed on each box. These new times will take effect from Monday 3 November, and the boxes scheduled for closure will be closed during the course of that same week.