The Post Office has released a list of branches which are likely to close in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes. The Post Office has said that the cut backs are necessary to make the service sustainable. It is part of a wider proposal to reduce the number of branches by 2,500 nationwide. A public consultation will now open on the proposed closures. The full list of closures is below.

In Bedfordshire

• Brickhill Drive, Bedford
• Elstow Road, Bedford
• Goldington Road, Bedford
• Midland Road, Bedford
• Springfields, Bedford
• Ravensden
• Stevington
• Stewartby
• Kitelands, Biggleswade
• Blunham
• Old Warden
• Southill
• Chalton
• Eaton Bray
• High Street South, Dunstable
• Luton Road, Dunstable
• Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard
• Linslade

In Luton:

• Slip End
• Atherstone Road
• Biscot
• Biscot Road
• Chapel Langley
• Hightown
• Slip End
• Chalton
• Eaton Bray

In Hertfordshire:

• Bengeo Street, Hertford
• King George Road, Ware
• Ware Road, Hertford
• Blakes Corner, Hitchin
• Hexton
• St Ippolyts, Hitchin
• Station Road North, Harpenden
• Whitwell
• Wadesmill, Ware
• Bedwell, Stevenage
• Benington, Stevenage
• Fairlands, Stevenage

In Milton Keynes:

• Fishermead
• Little Brickhill
• Conniburrow

In Buckinghamshire:

• Gawcott
• Padbury
• Preston Bissett
• Twyford
• Aylesbury Street, Bletchley
• Water Eaton
• Weston Underwood

Due to problems in the local area we have suspended our US printing station. Any mail bound for the US will be sent from our UK based printing station. We are working to reinstate the printing station as soon as possible and apologise for any inconvenience this temporary suspension may cause to customers.

Workers at a Royal Mail sorting office in Norfolk had to leave the premises when a suspicious package was spotted. 60 staff were evacuated after the security alert and a bomb disposal squad was called in. Staff have now returned to work and an investigation is under way. The incident may cause some minor delays to deliveries in the area.

PC2Paper has increased its UK prices this weekend to reflect the recent increases in postage prices from Royal Mail. The increases mean that a UK letter will now cost 56p to send via first class mail and 49p to send second class. Prices for letters sent to overseas destinations from our UK based printing station have also increased accordingly.

The Post Office has announced 53 branches in Norfolk that are facing closure. Despite the closures The Post Office says that the cutbacks are necessary to make the service sustainable and that most people will still be within a mile of a post office.

The full list of proposed closures:
•    The Crown, Colby Road, Banningham
•    Barney, The Street, Fakenham
•    Beeston Village Stores, Beeston, Kings Lynn
•    Beresford Road, Great Yarmouth
•    The Post Office, Castle Rising, King's Lynn
•    Village Hall, The Street, Caston, Attleborough
•    Clint Green, Norwich Road, Clint Green, Dereham
•    65 Intwood Road, Cringleford, Norwich
•    Cromer Road, Sheringham
•    East Runton Stores, Cromer
•    The Post Office, East Walton, Kings Lynn
•    Village Hall, Church Road, Wretham
•    4 Harvey Estate, Gimingham, Norwich
•    Church Road, Great Plumstead, Norwich
•    Textile Centre, Great Walsingham Barns
•    Church Road, Griston, Thetford
•    The Pleasure Boat Inn, Staithe Road, Hickling
•    Ancient House, Wells Road, Holkham
•    Lichfield Road, Southtown, Great Yarmouth,
•    Post Office Road, Little Plumstead, Norwich
•    98 London Street, Swaffham
•    Chapel Road, Longham, Dereham
•    47 Lynn Road, Downham Market
•    High Street, Marsham, Norwich
•    Lovells, Market Place, New Buckenham
•    308 Bowthorpe Road, North Earlham, Norwich
•    North End, Loke Road, Kings Lynn
•    East View, Mill Road, North Tuddenham, Dereham
•    Northgate Street, Great Yarmouth
•    Norwich Road, Watton
•    Nuns Bridges Filling Station, Bury Road, Thetford
•    Downham Market Railway Station, Railway Road, Downham Market
•    Ringstead, High Street, Hunstanton
•    Rosary Road, Norwich
•    Sporle Community Centre, Kings Lynn
•    Springfield Road, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth
•    Bungalow Stores, Stokesby, Great Yarmouth
•    Norwich Road, Tacolneston, Norwich
•    Tittleshall Village Hall, Tittleshall
•    The Street, Trowse
•    Church Road, Upton
•    Suffolk Square, Norwich
•    Wells Road, Fakenham
•    Staithe Road, West Somerton, Great Yarmouth
•    The Street, Wattisfield, Diss
•    The Street, Scole, Diss
•    High Road, Bressingham, Diss

Royal Mail managers have voted to reject proposed changes to their pension plan. The move could increase the risk of strike of action. The union Unite had advised its members to reject the proposed changes to the pension plan and 85% of staff who were balloted agreed with the union. Under the plans Royal Mail would cut the value of its pension scheme for new and current members and raise the retirement age. Unites have said that it will consider a ballot for strike action if the issue is not dealt with by Royal Mail but have also said they are unwilling to rush into strike action. The Communication Workers Union will also hold a ballot of its members to judge their opinion.

Friday the 21st of March and Monday 24th of March are public holidays in the UK. This means there is no mail delivery or collections on these days. Any letters sent via PC2Paper customers after close of business (5pm) on Thursday the 20th of March will not be processed until we reopen on Tuesday 25th March. Customers will still be able to send letters as normal but they will remain in the system as pending until the next working day.

Customers should also be aware that the public holidays may mean any letters sent on Thursday the 20th the March are not received until the middle of the following week. This is due to the fact that Royal Mail delivery staff do not work on public holidays, so although PC2Paper will have processed and sent your letter it may remain in the postal system over the long weekend.

Essex County Council is taking part in discussions about the possibility of taking over the running of post offices which have been earmarked for closure. The council is negotiating a buy out price from the Post Office and hopes to save 15 branches. They hope to make a profit out of the post offices by combining postal services with council services but have not yet said which branches they hope to save.

Monmouthshire council leaders have backed a campaign to stop six post offices closing. The council cabinet says that six post offices that have been earmarked for closures are essential in the county and that they provide vital services especially for the elderly. The threatened Post Offices includes outlets in Govilon, Llanellen, Mathern, Sudbrook, Tintern and Devauden.

The Post Office has named 41 branches that it wants to close in Sussex. The closures are part of nationwide plans to shut 2,500 branches.

The 41 branches which will close under the Sussex Area Plan are:

•  Bowness Avenue, 8 Seadown Parade, Lancing
•  Church Road, 137 Lower Church Road, Burgess Hill
•  Claremont Road, 23 Claremont Road, Seaford
•  Copthorne, Common Road, Copthorne, Crawley
•  Crowhurst, Crowhurst, Battle
•  Downlands, 1 Downlands Parade, Worthing
•  Durgates, Durgates, Wadhurst
•  Elm Grove, 150 Elm Grove, Brighton
•  Etchingham Road, Etchingham Road, Eastbourne
•  Fairways Estate, 4 Newick Close, Seaford
•  Framfield, The Street, Framfield, Uckfield
•  Franklands Village, Franklands Village, Haywards Heath
•  Hailsham Road, Hailsham Road, Heathfield
•  Heene Road, 62-66 Heene Road, Worthing
•  London Road, 91 London Road, Bexhill-On-Sea
•  Mount Pleasant, 2 Avis Parade Shops, Newhaven
•  New England Road, 42-44 America Lane, Haywards Heath
•  North Chailey, Haywards Heath Road, Lewes
•  North Lancing, Mill Road, North Lancing
•  Old Shoreham, Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham-By-Sea
•  Preston, 221 Preston Road, Brighton
•  Preston Road, 13 Preston Road, Brighton
•  Richardson Road, Richardson Road, Hove
•  Slindon, Slindon Top Road, Slindon, Arundel
•  South Lancing, 83 South Street, South Lancing
•  Southern Cross, 86 Trafalgar Road, Portslade, Brighton
•  St Johns Common, 95 London Road, Burgess Hill
•  St Leonards Green, 45 Springfield Road, St Leonards
•  The Broadway, 1/2 The Broadway, Eastbourne
•  The Parade, 40 Broadwater Road, Worthing
•  The Strand, The Strand, Worthing
•  Tilling Green, Tilling Green News, 45 Lea Avenue, Rye
•  Town Row, Yew Tree Lane - Town Row, Crowborough
•  Trafalgar Street, 8 Trafalgar Street, Brighton
•  Upper Dicker, Coldharbour Road, Upper Dicker, Hailsham
•  Wannock, 41 Farmlands Way, Polegate
•  Warnham, 3 Church Street, Warnham, Horsham
•  WashingtonThe Frankland Arms, London Road, Pulborough
•  West Beach, 132 Beach Green, Shoreham-By-Sea
•  White Rock, 32-33 White Rock, Hastings
•  Willingdon, 116 Wish Hill, Willingdon, Eastbourne

Barns Green post office in Horsham, and Plaistow in Billingshurst will be replaced by an outreach service.

The future of the following eight branches is still under consideration:

•  Marine Parade, 15/17 Seaside, Eastbourne
•  Old Town Hastings, 70 George Street, Hastings
•  Collington, 2 Collington Mansions, Bexhill-On-Sea
•  Landport, 34 Lee Road, Lewes
•  Station Road, 12-14 Station Road, Horsham
•  Queen Street, 70 Queen Street, Horsham
•  St Leonards Road, 15 St Leonards Road, Horsham
•  North Parade, 24 North Parade, Horsham

It has been announced that another 25 post offices will close across in Newport and Gwent Valley. The proposals will also establish three new outreach post offices two in Chepstow and one in Caldicot. The latest list of closures includes the following:

Abertillery: Cwm Celyn; Princess Street
Tredegar: Dukestown, Georgetown
Ebbw Vale: Rassau, Winchestown
Hengoed: Caerphilly Rd, Penpedairheol, Penybryn
Bargoed: Gilfach
Blackwood: Argoed, Wyllie
Newport: West End, Wattsville, Christchurch Road, Malpas Road, West Park
Abergavenny: Govilon, Llanellen
Chepstow: Mathern
Caldicot: Sudbrook
Pontypool: Pentwyn, Penygarn, Pontnewynydd, Penygraig Terrace

Another 40 post offices are to be closed across Glasgow, Argyll and Bute. The original announcement which came in October had said that 44 branches were to be closed. However, four post offices that were on the original list have now been spared. Cultenhove in Stirling, Auchenback in Barrhead and Kelvindale and Hyndland in Glasgow will now stay open although four other branches will now also be closed. The full list of closures is below.

Branches to close in central and south west Scotland are:
Argyll & Bute
•    East Princes Street, The Post Office, East Princes Street, Helensburgh
•    Gallowgate, Gallowgate, Rothesay
•    High Street, The Post Office, High Street, Campbeltown
•    Hillfoot Street, The Post Office, Dunoon
•    Kirn, The Post Office, Dunoon
•    Mossfield, Combie Street, Oban
•    Ralston Road, 125 -127 Ralston Road, Campbeltown
Greater Glasgow
•    Anderston, 76 St. Vincent Terrace, Glasgow
•    Balornock, 34-36 Drumbottie Road, Glasgow
•    Bowling, 32 Dumbarton Road, Dumbarton
•    Brucehill, Brucehill Road, Dumbarton
•    Carmunnock, Clarkston, 17 Busby Road, Carmunnock, Glasgow
•    Croftfoot, 509 Castlemilk Road, Glasgow
•    Crow Road, 304 Crow Road, Glasgow
•    Drumchapel, 135 Garscadden Road, Glasgow
•    Forge St, The Post Office, Forge Street, Glasgow
•    Gilshochill, Glenavon Road, Glasgow
•    Govanhill, 328 Allison St, Govanhill, Glasgow
•    Greenbank, 29 Eaglesham Road, Clarkston, Glasgow
•    High Street, 271 High Street, Glasgow
•    Kingsridge, 55 Inchfad Drive, Drumchapel, Glasgow
•    Levenvale, Co-Op Store, Argyle Street, Alexandria
•    Muirend, The Post Office, 367 Clarkston Road, Glasgow
•    Newton, 107 Glasgow Road, Dumbarton
•    Nithsdale Rd, 8 Kildroston Street, Glasgow
•    Radnor Park, 379 Kilbowie Road, Clydebank
•    Red Road, 51 Red Court, Glasgow
•    Sandymount, 18 Grantlea Terrace, Glasgow
•    Springfield Rd, 98 Springfield Road, Glasgow
•    Temple, 58 Fulton Street, Glasgow
•    West End, 125-127 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow
Central Scotland
•    Bothkennar, Main Street, Skinflats, Falkirk
•    Brightons, Quarry Brae, Brightons, Falkirk
•    Church Street, 206 King Street, Stenhousemuir, Larbert
•    East End, 161 Main Street, Callander
•    Forth Crescent, 36 Abbey Road, Riverside, Stirling
•    Greenhill, 2 Lea Park Drive, Bonnybridge
•    Highland Dykes, 66 Wheatlands Avenue, Bonnybridge
•    Nethermains, 4 Fleming Court, Denny
•    Thornhill Road, 192 Thornhill Road, Falkirk

I read this article that suggests millions of presents will be lost by delivery companies in the run up to Christmas. The article suggests that if the failure rate remains same as last year around 5.6 million parcels will either be returned to the sender or disposed of by the carrier. One of the main problems is carriers delivering to the wrong address either because the details are entered incorrectly or the information is out of date. Last posting dates this year are December 17 for 2-class items, December 20 for 1st-class and December 22 for special delivery.

The last recommended posting dates for sending mail to South America and the Middle East from the UK have now passed. Any mail received for South and Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Far East, Australia and New Zealand can no longer be guaranteed for Christmas delivery.

Mail posted to the USA Canada, Japan and Eastern Europe from the UK should be posted by Monday 10th of December. Please note letters received for the USA are posted from our US based printing station and should be received by the 20th of December.

Mail posted to Western Europe should be posted by Thursday 13th of December.

Second class mail to the UK should be posted by Monday 17th of December.

First class mail to the UK should be posted by Thursday 20th of December.

Any mail received after these dates will still be processed and posted as normal but cannot be guaranteed for delivery before Christmas.

St Andrews will lose it main Post Office after a deal was reached to move the service into WH Smith. Despite a long running campaign to save the Post Office it is due to close next June. A spokesman has said that the decision will not result in a reduction in services.

A secret list of post office closures has been put on the internet by mistake. The list was meant to be kept secret until the start of a public consultation next summer but it appeared on the Post Office website last week before being quickly removed. For those who missed here the following post offices are due to close.

The following Post Office branches are proposed for closure in Kent
Approach Road, 63 Approach Road, Margate, CT9 2AP
Bellevue Road, 13 Bellevue Road, Ramsgate, CT11 8LB
Benenden Chest Hospital, Goddards Green Road, Cranbrook, TN17 4AX
Bidborough, 14 Bidborough Ridge, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0XD
Bingham Road, 185 Frindsbury Road, Rochester, ME2 4JN
Brompton, 25 High Street, Brompton, Gillingham, ME7 5AA
Byron Road, 34 Byron Road, Gillingham, ME7 5QH
Canterbury Road, 14-16 Canterbury Road, Whitstable, CT5 4EX
Capel Le Ferne, Capel Le Ferne Village Hall, Lancaster Avenue, Capel Le Ferne, Folkestone, CT18 7LX
Chalkwell, 69 London Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 1NQ
Cliff's End, Cliff's End Village Hall, Foads Lane, Ramsgate CT12 5JH
Dane Road, 55 Upper Dane Road, Margate CT9 2NA
Denton, 4 East Milton Road, Gravesend, DA12 2JL
Duke Of York's School, Guston, Dover, CT15 5DZ
East Street, 85-89 East Street, Sittingbourne, ME10 4BL
Enbrook Valley, 99 Enbrook Valley, Eynsford, Folkestone, CT20 3NE
Eynsford, The Old Forge Tea Rooms, 2 Riverside, Dartford, DA4 0AE
Farningham, 3 High Street, Farningham, Dartford, DA40DG
Gills Green, Station Garage, Hawkhurst, TN18 5EP
Grange Road, 34 Grange Road, Ramsgate, CT11 9LP
Great Mongeham, Mongeham Farm, Deal, CT14 0HB
Hardy Street, 84-86 Hardy Street, Maidstone, ME14 2SJ
Hawkhurst, High Street, Cranbrook,TN18 4AA
Hectorage Road, 82 Goldsmid Road, Tonbridge, TN9 2BY
High Street, 3 High Street, Herne Bay, CT6 5LJ
High Street, 13 High Street, Sevenoaks, TN13 IHZ
Hythe Road, 79 Hythe Road, Ashford, TN24, 8PH
Langton Green, Langton Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0EG
Littlestone, 4 Warren Road, New Romney, TN28 8PN
Longfield Hill, Main Road, Longfield Hill, Dartford, DA3 7AS
Mead Road, 11 Mead Road, Dartford, DA1 2RH
Minnis Road, 137 Minnis Road, Birchington, CT7 9NS
New Bridge, 15 Bench Street, Dover, CT16 1JW
Northgate, 65 Northgate, Canterbury, CT1 1BB
Oaten Hill, 3-4 Oaten Hill, Canterbury, CT1 3HP
Rodmersham Green, 1 St Patricks Row, Sittingbourne, ME9 0PS
Saltwood, The Fountain Stores, Saltwood, Hythe, CT21 4PS
Seabrook Road, 246 Seabrook Road, Hythe, CT21 5RQ
Seal, 23-25 High Street, Seal, Sevenoaks, TN15 0AW
Shipbourne Road, 55 Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge, TN10 3DS
Shorncliffe, 2 Royal Military Avenue, Folkestone, CT20 3EF
Sole Street, The Little Shoppe, Sole Street, Gravesend, DA12 3AX
South Ashford, 108 Beaver Road, Ashford, TN23 7ST
South End, 115 High Street, Edenbridge, TN8 5AX
South Park, 192 Loose Road, Maidstone, ME15 7UF
South Willesborough, 62 Gladstone Road, Ashford, TN24 0BY
St Botolphs, 2 Station Parade, Sevenoaks,TN13 1DL
St Dunstans, 21-23 Whitstable Road, Canterbury, CT2 8DG
St Johns Road, 57 St Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9TP
Station Road, 129 Station Road, Gillingham, ME8 7SP
Station Road, Station Road, Tonbridge, TN12 0QH
Temple Hill, 11 Temple Hill Square, Dartford, DA1 5HY
Tower Hamlets, 14 West Street, Dover, CT17 0DU
Upper Deal, 311 London Road, Deal, CT14 9PP
Westbrook, 101 Canterbury Road, Margate, CT9 5AX
Wilmington, 221 High Road, Dartford, DA2 7BU
Woodnesborough, The Street, Woodnesborough, Sandwich, CT13 0NF
Wrotham Road, 46 Wrotham Road, Gravesend, DA11 0QF

The following 77 Post Office branches are proposed for closure as part of the East Midlands plan:
Abbey Street, 17 Abbey Street, Derby DE22 3SJ
Annesley Road, 101 Annesley Road, Hucknall, Nottingham NG15 7DR
Ashbourne Road, 130 Ashbourne Road, Derby DE22 3AG
Bonsall Hollies Farm, Uppertown, Bonsall Matlock DE4 2AW
Bramcote Hills, 40A Sevenoaks, Crescent, Beeston NG9 3FW
Breadsall, 2 Rectory Lane, Breadsall DE21 5LL
Brook Street, 20a Brook Street, Grantham NG31 6PS
Bunny, Jet Garage, Brobot Petroleum Ltd, Loughborough Road, Bunny NG11 6QT
Carlton Valley , 56 Valley Road, Carlton, Nottingham NG4 1LT
Carnarvon Grove, 240 Huthwaite Road, Sutton-In-Ashfield NG17 2HF
Carr Vale,32 Main Street, Bolsover, Chesterfield S44 6JF
Carrington, 355 Mansfield Road, Carrington Nottingham NG5 2DA
Church Gresley, 35 Market Street, Church Gresley, Swadlincote DE11 9PR
Cobden Street, 34 Cobden Street, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1BP
Colston Bassett, Church Gate, Colston Bassett, Nottingham NG12 3FE
Edensor, The Post Office, Edensor, Bakewell DE45 1PH
Egginton, The School House, Church Road, Egginton, Derby DE65 6HP
Elmfield, 234 Elmton Road, Creswell, Worksop S80 4DZ
Epperstone, Main Street, Epperstone, Nottingham, NG14 6AD
Forest Side, 261 Mansfield Road, Sutton-In-Ashfield NG17 4HG
Gedling, 98 Main Road, Gedling,Nottingham NG4 3HE
Great Hale, 4 High Street, Great Hale, Sleaford NG34 9LE
Heage, The Windmill Inn, 213-215 Park Road, Heage, Derby DE56 2AB
Heage Road, 133 Heage Road, Ripley, Derby DE5 3GG
Higham, Crown Inn, Main Road, Higham DE55 6EH
Hill Avenue, 26 Hill Avenue, Grantham NG31 9BD
Hill Top, 231 Nottingham Road, Eastwood, Nottingham NG16 3GS
Hillstown, 30 Nesbit Street, Bolsover, Chesterfield S44 6LW
Hodthorpe, 137 Queens Road, Hodthorpe, Worksop S80 4UP
Kirk Ireton, Barley Mow, Kirk Ireton , Ashbourne DE6 3JP
Langwith Junction, 8 East Veiw, Langwith Junction, Mansfield NG20 9AA
Laxton Main Street, Laxton, Newark NG22 0NX
Leabrooks, 69 Main Road, Leabrooks, Alfreton DE55 1LA
Mansfield Road, 102 Mansfield Road, Alfreton DE55 7JP
Mansfield Road, 164 Mansfield Road, Derby DE1 3RA
Mansfield Road, 88 Mansfield Road, Heanor DE75 7AQ
Market Place, 16 Market Place, Ashbourne DE6 1ES
Marston Montgomery, 2 Thurvaston Road, Ashbourne DE6 2FF
Matlock Bank, 83 Smedley, Street East, Matlock DE4 3FQ
Melton Road, 95a Melton Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 6EN
Model Village, 5 Colonade, Shirebrook, Mansfield, NG20 8BL
Moorhall, 12 Moorhall, Bakewell DE45 1FT
New Lenton, 17 Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham NG7 2ET
Newgate Lane, 114 Newgate Lane, Mansfield NG18 2QB
Newlands, 85 Clipstone Road East, Forest Town, Mansfield NG19 0HT
Newton Solney, 16 Main Street, Newton Solney, Burton-On-Trent DE15 0SJ
Normanton-On-Soar, 73 Main Street, Normanton-On-Soar LE12 5HB
Nottingham Road, 111 Nottingham Road, Alfreton, Derby DE55 7GR
Nottingham Road, 114 Nottingham Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 2BZ
Nottingham Road, 123 Nottingham Road, Mansfield NG18 4AJ
Nuthall, 1 Kimberley Road, Nuthall, Nottingham NG16 1DA
Old Somerby, The Old School, Old Somerby, Grantham NG33 4AB
Ollerton, Saville House, Station Road, Ollerton, Newark NG22 9BN
Openwoodgate, 4 Kilburn Lane, Openwoodgate, Belper DE56 0SF
Pear Tree, 157-159 St Thomas, Road, Pear Tree, Derby DE23 8RH
Red Hill, 69 Red Hill Road, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 8GX
Roper Avenue, 113 Roper Avenue, Heanor DE75 7DA
Ryhall Road, 60 Ryhall Road, Stamford PE9 1UF
Rylands, 44 Meadow Road, Beeston NG9 1JT
Shelton Lock, 211 Derby Road, Chellaston, Derby DE73 5SE
Shuttlewood, 72 Chesterfield Road, Shuttlewood, Chesterfield S44 6QT
Sneinton Dale, 197 Sneinton Dale, Nottingham NG2 4HU
South Wingfield, 11 Inns Lane, South Wingfield, Alfreton DE55 7LW
Stanfree, 12 Clowne Road, Chesterfield S44 6AW
Stanton By Dale, School House, Stanton By Dale, Ilkeston DE7 4QJ
Starkholmes, 133 Starkholmes, Road Matlock E4 5JA
Stirling Road, 6 Stirling Road Stamford, PE9 2XG
The Harlequin, 50 Grantham Road, Radcliffe On Trent, Nottingham NG12 2HS
Uffington, Croft Farm, Uffington, Stamford PE9 4SX
Warsop Road, 7 Warsop Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, Mansfield NG19 9LE
Western Valley, 304-306 Valley Road, Nottingham NG5 1HW
Westhouses, 1 Alfreton Road, Westhouses, Alfreton DE55 5AH
Westville, The Wyvern Centre, Watnall Road, Nottingham NG15 7LD
Wilmorton, 707 London Road, Derby DE24 8UQ
Wolds Drive, 77 Wolds Drive, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5FS
Wollaton Avenue, 4 Wollaton Avenue, Gedling NG4 4HX
Woodland Grove, 720/722 Mansfield Road, Woodthorpe, Nottingham NG5 3FW

The following 11 branches are proposed for closure and replacement by an 'outreach solution'- most likely a touring van.
Anwick, 1a River Lane, Anwick, Sleaford NG34 9SP
Allington, The Green, Allington, Grantham NG32 2EA
Barkston, 5 Church Street, Barkston, Grantham NG32 2NB
Brant Broughton, The Forge, High Street, Brant Broughton , Lincoln LN5 0SL
Castle Bytham, 19-21 Pinfold Road, Castle Bytham Grantham NG33 4RG
Folkingham, The Old School, 7 Market Place, Folkingham, Sleaford NG34 0SE
Harby Low Street, Harby, Newark NG23 7EA
Kinoulton, Hall Lane, Kinoulton, Nottingham NG12 3EF
Rippingale, 5 Middle Street, Rippingale, Bourne PE10 0SU
South Witham, 14 High Street, South Witham, Grantham NG33 5QB
Woolsthorpe, Main Street, Woolsthorpe, Grantham NG32 1LY

The following 45 Post Office branches are proposed for closure as part of the East Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and North Lincolnshire plan:
Adwick-Le –Street 2 Church Lane Adwick-Le-Street Doncaster DN6 7AQ
Ashby Cum Fenby Chapel Lane Ashby Cum Fenby Grimsby DN37 0QT
Bailgate 90 Bailgate Lincoln LN1 3AE
Balby 296 Balby Road Balby Doncaster DN4 0QF
Bennetthorpe 2b Bennetthorpe Doncaster DN2 6AD
Bole 6 South Street Bole Retford DN22 9EJ
Brackenborough Road 8 Brackenborough Road Louth LN11 0AE
Brocklesby Main Road Grimsby DN41 8PP
Burringham Road 78 Burringham Road Scunthorpe DN17 2DE
Cuckney 5 Ten Row Cuckney Mansfield NG20 9LY
East Ashby 46 High Street Ashby Scunthorpe DN16 2ND
Fishlake Main Street Fishlake Doncaster DN7 5JH
Fleetgate 40/42 Newport Barton-Upon-Humber DN18 5QG
Foggathorpe 8 Station Road Foggathorpe Selby YO8 6PU
Golf Road 47 Golf Road Mablethorpe LN12 1LS
Grimoldby 34 Tinkle Street, Grimoldby Louth LN11 8SW
Grovehill Road 165 Grovehill Road Beverley HU17 0ET
Habrough The Stables, Station Hotel Habrough DN40 3AP
Hatfield Woodhouse Main Street Hatfield Woodhouse Doncaster DN7 6NF
Hawthorn Avenue 43 Hawthorn Avenue Hull HU3 5PA
Hollym Silver Leys, North, Leys Road, Hollym Withernsea HU19 2QN
Humberstone Road 84 Humberstone Road Grimsby DN32 8AZ
Hundleby 30 Main Road Hundleby Spilsby PE23 5LS
Hyde Park 55 Carr House Road Doncaster DN1 2BY
Kirk Ella 1 Packman Lane Kirk Ella Hull HU10 7TH
Lambert Road 65 Lambert Road Grimsby DN32 0NW
Mappleton Cliff Lane Mappleton Hornsea HU18 1XX
Marfleet 993 Hedon Road Marfleet Hull HU9 5QP
Markby Sutton Road Markby Alford LN13 9QJ
New Hexthorpe 70 Hexthorpe Doncaster DN4 0AJ
Newland 504 Beverley Road Hull HU5 1NA
Newmarket 161 Newmarket Louth LN11 9EJ
Northfield 111-113 King Edward Road, Thorne Doncaster DN8 4DD
Northorpe 3/5 Manor Road Northorpe Gainsborough DN21 4AA
Princes Avenue 75 Princes Avenue Hull HU5 3QU
Raines Avenue 361 Carlton Road Worksop S81 7PQ
Skidby c/o Methodist Church Main Street Skidby Cottingham HU16 5TH
South Somercotes South Somercotes Louth LN11 7BH
Spring Bank 153 Spring Bank Hull HU3 1BN
St Peters At Gowts 85 High Street Lincoln LN5 7QW Lincoln
Trinity Street 142 Trinity Street Gainsborough DN21 1JD
Warsop Vale Carter Lane Warsop Vale Mansfield NG20 8XE
Welton 24 Church Street Welton Brough HU15 1NH
West Rasen West Rasen Market Rasen LN8 3LS
Westfield Avenue 136-138 Pasture Road Goole DN14 6HF

The following 24 branches are proposed for replacement by an 'outreach solution - most likely a touring van:
Belchford Rimmer House Horncastle LN9 6LQ
Blyton 64 High Street Gainsborough DN21 3LA
Corringham A H Hardwick & Sons (Butchers) 7 Middle Street Corringham Gainsborough DN21 5QT
Eastoft High Street Eastoft Scunthorpe DN17 4PA
Faldingworth High Street Faldingworth Lincoln LN8 3SE
Hagworthingham Main Road Hagworthingham Spilsby PE23 4NA
Haltham Haltham Garage Main Road, Haltham Horncastle LN9 6JQ
Huttoft Alford Road Huttoft Alford LN13 9RB
Ingham 24 The Green Ingham Lincoln LN1 2XT
Langworth Station Road Langworth Lincoln LN3 5BB
Little Steeping Main Road Spilsby PE23 5BL
Lockington School Farm Front Street Lockington Driffield YO25 9SH
Maltby-Le-Marsh Main Road Maltby-Le-Marsh Alford LN13 0JP
New Leake Boston Road Eastville Boston PE22 8LJ
North Kelsey North Kelsey Market Rasen LN7 6EB
North Newbald The Green North Newbald York YO43 4SA
Rampton The Green Adjacent Eyre Arms (Public House), Rampton Retford DN22 0HR
Reedness Main Street Reedness Goole DN14 8ET
Scampton RAF Station Scampton RAF Camp Scampton Lincoln LN1 2TR
Tealby Tealby Village Hall Outbuilding,Tennyson Eyncourt Memorial Hall Tealby Market Rasen LN8 3XU
Upton 1 High Street Upton Gainsborough DN21 5NL
Welton Le Marsh Village PO Main Road Spilsby PE23 5TA
West Butterwick15 West Street West Butterwick Scunthorpe DN17 3JZ
Wroot High Street Wroot Doncaster DN9

Ministers have delayed the closure of hundreds of post office until after next year’s local elections. Around 2500 branches are to shut by the end of 2008 but the decisions on which ones are to close have not been made yet. Many people will now not find out whether their local post office is to close until after the polls. It seems rather cynical to me, if they are proposing the freeze until after the polls, then they can obviously see that the local post offices are needed. It seems whilst they benefit the government they will keep them open and once they have been voted back in, then the closures will take place.

Following a long battle Rutland will now be recognised as a separate postal county. Rutland is England’s smallest county but until now has been listed in the Royal Mail database as having an address in Leicestershire. Rutland measures only 18 mile long and 17 miles across and contains two towns, Oakham and Uppingham.

Around 100 people turned out to protest outside the Crown Post Office in Trafalgar Square yesterday. The protest was at the proposed closure privatization of 85 Crown post offices and the closure of 2,500 others. It was attended by the CWU and the National Pensioners Convention and was aimed at highlighting the fact that in many towns disabled and elderly people will no longer be able to access facilities which they currently rely upon.

Royal Mail has announced plans to close another 42 post offices across Merseyside and Cheshire. A six week consultation process is now under way that will enable people to give their views on the proposed closures. You can see a full list of the planned closures here.

Royal Mail has ended Sunday collections in order to cut costs. Although most mail boxes do not have a Sunday collection a small proportion of boxes mainly outside main post offices did have a Sunday collection. Royal Mail have said that the demand for Sunday collections is limited and that it costs four times as much to handle those letters as it does letters posted on other days of the week.

It has been announced that 44 post offices are to close in Scotland. The Post Office will reduce the number of branches in Argyll and Bute by seven, Glasgow by 27 and Central Scotland by 10. There will be a six week consultation period during which communities can give their views on the closures. The following branches are due to close.

Argyll & Bute
•    East Princes Street, The Post Office, East Princes Street, Helensburgh
•    Gallowgate, Gallowgate, Rothesay
•    High Street, The Post Office, High Street, Campbeltown
•    Hillfoot Street, The Post Office, Dunoon
•    Kirn, The Post Office, Dunoon
•    Mossfield, Combie Street, Oban
•    Ralston Road, 125 -127 Ralston Road, Campbeltown
Greater Glasgow
•    Anderston, 76 St. Vincent Terrace, Glasgow
•    Auchenback, 60 Aurs Drive, Barrhead, Glasgow
•    Balornock, 34-36 Drumbottie Road, Glasgow
•    Bowling, 32 Dumbarton Road, Dumbarton
•    Brucehill, Brucehill Road, Dumbarton
•    Carmunnock, Clarkston, 17 Busby Road, Carmunnock, Glasgow
•    Croftfoot, 509 Castlemilk Road, Glasgow
•    Crow Road, 304 Crow Road, Glasgow
•    Drumchapel, 135 Garscadden Road, Glasgow
•    Forge St, The Post Office, Forge Street, Glasgow
•    Gilshochill, Glenavon Road, Glasgow
•    Govanhill, 328 Allison St, Govanhill, Glasgow
•    Greenbank, 29 Eaglesham Road, Clarkston, Glasgow
•    High Street, 271 High Street, Glasgow
•    Hyndland, 37 Clarence Drive, Glasgow
•    Kelvindale, Kelvindale Mini Market, 361/367 Kelvindale Road, Glasgow
•    Kingsridge, 55 Inchfad Drive, Drumchapel, Glasgow
•    Levenvale, Co-Op Store, Argyle Street, Alexandria
•    Muirend, The Post Office, 367 Clarkston Road, Glasgow
•    Newton, 107 Glasgow Road, Dumbarton
•    Nithsdale Rd, 8 Kildroston Street, Glasgow
•    Radnor Park, 379 Kilbowie Road, Clydebank
•    Red Road, 51 Red Court, Glasgow
•    Sandymount, 18 Grantlea Terrace, Glasgow
•    Springfield Rd, 98 Springfield Road, Glasgow
•    Temple, 58 Fulton Street, Glasgow
•    West End, 125-127 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow
Central Scotland
•    Bothkennar, Main Street, Skinflats, Falkirk
•    Brightons, Quarry Brae, Brightons, Falkirk
•    Church Street, 206 King Street, Stenhousemuir, Larbert
•    Cultenhove, 104 Cultenhove Road, Stirling
•    East End, 161 Main Street, Callander
•    Forth Crescent, 36 Abbey Road, Riverside, Stirling
•    Greenhill, 2 Lea Park Drive, Bonnybridge
•    Highland Dykes, 66 Wheatlands Avenue, Bonnybridge
•    Nethermains, 4 Fleming Court, Denny
•    Thornhill Road, 192 Thornhill Road, Falkirk

A postman in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire has been jailed for nine months after he admitted stealing mail. Between October 2004 and May 2007, it is estimated he stole about 20 items of mail a week. He was finally caught after an operational involving covert cameras and dummy packages.

The Norwegian postal service takes the delivery of ballot papers very seriously. So seriously in fact that when a ballot paper was sent to the wrong town, they pulled out all the stops to try and get it to its destination before the polls closed. This included taking the unusual steps of flying it 220 miles to Oslo and then another 185 miles to Foerde, before sending it on a chartered helicopter for the remaining 35 miles to its destination of Stryn. The complete bill was 15,000 kroner.