Final delivery for Britain's iconic red post boxes?

[POSTMAN]

http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/bus ... -1-3824814" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/webimage/1.3824812.1436352224!/image/3625912611.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_620/3625912611.jpgThe last foundry in the UK to manufacture cast iron red postboxes has downsized after orders from the Royal Mail dried up.

Denny-based Machan Engineering previously made around 150 of the iconic A-type postboxes a year - but received only 20 orders in 2014 and none since November.

The firm, in Broad Street, has made a single penfold, or hexagonal, postbox in 2015.

The Falkirk Herald first reported in November 2013 that Machan was concerned the classic cast iron postbox would become a thing of the past as the newly-privatised Royal Mail switched to commissioning aluminium varieties.

Now the firm has confirmed that six members of staff have been made redundant in the past year as it looks to diversify.

“We’re resigned to the fact Royal Mail orders will not recover to previous levels, but we would be happy if they did,” said managing director Lisa MacDonald.

Machan has recently received advice from Falkirk Business Gateway on improving its marketing and reaching new clients.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “Royal Mail’s arrangements for the manufacturer of cast iron post boxes remain in place. We will continue to place further orders for cast iron post boxes as and when required.


“We have needed to manufacture lamp boxes in stainless steel to ensure we meet our operational and customer requirements.”.