Postbox upgrades in Newton Mearns are set to be complete in the next few weeks.
During August, it was brought to the attention of local MSP Jackson Carlaw that two post-boxes on Fraser Avenue and Capelrig Road had been covered in black bin bags and were out of use.
There was a notice placed on each postbox with the statement, “Out of Service: Automated System, Coming Soon.”
Mr Carlaw contacted Royal Mail to seek clarification on whether the plan was to introduce improved postboxes at each of these locations in Newton Mearns and if so, what new services would then be available for residents.
Royal Mail issued a response in mid-September to confirm that new digital postboxes would be installed at Fraser Avenue and Capelrig Road by October and this would make it easier for people to send, return and collect parcels in the local area.
The new design will allow people to send and return labelled parcels up to the size of a shoebox through a postbox for the first time ever.
The new postboxes will have a parcel chute and solar panel.
The postbox at Fraser Avenue is located on the odd-numbered section of the street and adjacent to it’s junction with Fruin Avenue.
At Capelrig Road, the postbox is located directly outside of Crookfur Primary School and on the opposite side of the road from Eastwood High School.
Across the UK, Royal Mail has plans to install 3,500 solar-powered digital postboxes.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Eastwood, Jackson Carlaw said:
“Readily available and easily accessible postboxes remain hugely important for local residents in Newton Mearns.
“It was a concern to learn that the postboxes on Fraser Avenue and Capelrig Road were no longer in use and seemingly without any advance warning for the local community.
“I am pleased to receive confirmation from Royal Mail that both locations will continue to have a postbox and with the new design enabling local people to send and return labelled parcels.
“It is important that the new postboxes are available to use at the earliest possible opportunity and hopefully by the October delivery timescale.
"Since my representation to Royal Mail in August, I am also aware that a number of additional local postboxes have been put out of service and as part of the digital roll-out, many others in Eastwood are likely to be replaced in the coming weeks and months."
