Post Box Painting type and schedule

Dear Mr Gow

Thank you for your request for information received on 10/06/2009, which
we are considering under the Freedom of Information Act. Under the Act
you should expect a reply from us to be sent by 08/07/2009, which is
twenty working days from receipt of your request.

If for any reason we are unable to provide you with a full response within
that time, we will contact you explaining the reasons for this and giving
a revised date by which we will reply.

If in the mean time you have any questions or would like to contact us
about your request, please contact us by telephone 01252 806513 or
alternatively email or write to us at the address below. Please be
assured that we are giving this our attention and will get back to you
shortly.

Yours sincerely

John Cere
[1][Royal Mail Group request email]
Freedom of Information Unit
PO Box 341, ALDERSHOT, GU11 1WW

Royal Mail is a trading name of Royal Mail Group Ltd. Registered in
England and Wales.
Registered number 4138203. Registered office at 148 Old Street, LONDON
EC1V 9HQ

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1. mailto:[Royal Mail Group request email]

Dear Mr Gow

I am writing in response to your email dated 10 June 2009 regarding Royal
Mail Postboxes. You requested the following information under the terms of
the Freedom of Information Act:

1. “The exact paint, including the spec number, used to maintain Royal Mail
post boxes throughout the UK including both red and black. I believe there
are regional variations of suppliers and Manufacturers.”

2. “Is there a painting / maintenance schedule for each post box, and if
so, can you supply a national database of records of maintenance to each UK
post box? I believe the schedule is approximately every three years. Are
records kept for post box repairs?”

3) “Your policy of gilding Royal Insignia on post boxes. I believe this is
forbidden by Romec employees, but should a member of the public paint the
Royal Cipher on a post box gold, do you view this as an act of vandalism,
despite the fact it enhances the aesthetic appearance of a post box?”

Royal Mail has a joint policy with English Heritage regarding Postboxes
which can be viewed online:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/uploa...

You will see from the policy statement that all Postboxes are painted every
three years using lead-free paint to the correct specification (Royal Mail
red, colour ref no. 538 BS381C and Black, colour ref no. 00E 53, BS4800).
Romec Ltd is responsible for the re-painting of Postboxes and all Postboxes
are painted once every 3 years. The routine maintenance and cleaning of
postboxes also forms part of Royal Mail Group Ltd's contract with Romec
Ltd. Royal Mail employees report any incidents of damage or graffiti which
require urgent cleaning or maintenance by Romec.

We do not hold a national schedule of painting and maintenance for each
postbox, records are held at a local level throughout the UK. To compile
records of all painting and maintenance for every Postbox would
significantly exceed the appropriate cost limit set out under section 12 of
the Freedom of Information Act. The appropriate limit for Royal Mail Group
is set at £450. This represents the estimated cost of one person spending
18 hours in determining whether we hold the information, and in locating,
retrieving and extracting the information. Consequently, Royal Mail Group
is not obliged by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to respond to this
particular request (see section 12(1) of the Act. It may be possible to
retrieve information within the cost limit if you are able to narrow your
request. For example, if you are interested in the maintenance of a
specific postbox. Any reformulated request we receive from you will need
to be treated as a fresh FOI request.

Finally, in relation to the gilding of Royal Insignia on post boxes - you
will see from the agreement with English Heritage, that the highlighting of
specific features on letter boxes, such as the Royal cypher and crown in
gold, is not normally allowed other than in exceptional circumstances on
some pillar boxes where there is historic justification. Lettering enamel
is used and covered with a varnish to minimise weathering. The use of gold
paint is not permitted. Royal Mail will prosecute any person apprehended
defacing, vandalising or otherwise damaging a letter box.

I am sorry your request cannot be met in full but hope the information
provided is of use to you. If you are dissatisfied with this response for
any reason you do have a right to request an internal review, in which case
please write to the Head of Information Compliance, Royal Mail Group,
Company Secretary's Office, 100 Victoria Embankment, LONDON, EC4Y 0HQ. An
internal panel will then review the decision, and you will be advised of
the outcome.

If, having requested an internal review by Royal Mail, you are still not
satisfied with our response you also have a right of appeal to the
Information Commissioner at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Colin Young
Freedom of Information Manager
[Royal Mail Group request email]

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