Jersey - First class postal service scrapped

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First class deliveries are to be scrapped in Jersey.

It's all part of an attempt by the Postal service to save cash and increase efficiency.

A number of post boxes around the island will also be closed - but there'll be more collections elsewhere.

The postal service is something we all rely on. Yet it's under growing pressure from our changing habits. Whilst traditional mail levels are falling, packages are at an all time high. But that too could be under threat, with the LVCR loophole about to be closed.

For the local postmen it's a tense time. Ricky Le Quesne who works at Jersey Post said: " There is uncertainty basically every day- we get on with our job- turn up to do what we're meant to do- but there is a lot of uncertainty and we basically take things day by day."

But although 90% of people said they were happy with their local postman, the survey also revealed shortcomings. One of the first things to go as a result is the two tier delivery system introduced in 2010.

What that did was rank stamped mail priority or standard with a 5p difference in cost- but islanders never warmed to the concept.

New focus will also be put on the Broad Street post office with a new committment to improving customer service at peak times.

Finally the parcel and packet delivery service will be reviewed to minimise inconvenience to customers, completing the raft of measures.

Chief Executive at Jersey Post Kevin Keen said: "I think on the whole they're about customer service, but what we're not able to do is increase our costs, we know we can't do that so whenever we try and find an improvement to service we have to try and find a sensible way of paying for it. That's the idea of the collection box rationalisation. We put the money that we save into improving the collection service for the post boxes that people do use."

The next challenge for Jersey Post will undoubtedly be the decision on LVCR. A ruling on the legal challenge mounted by the Channel Islands is expected in the next couple of months.

Until then the service will be taking things day by day, but at least they'll be doing so with their customers on side.