[Talk-GB] Priority Postboxes

[Dan Glover]

On 2021-08-19 16:08, Ken Kilfedder wrote:

> One idea would be to build on the 'opening_hours:covid19=*' tag used
> to indicate changed opening hours during the lockdowns.  Perhaps
> adding the 'covid19' suffix would indicate what the priority is for?

To a very good approximation, the "PRIORITY" boxes are the ones still 
with end-of-day collections (D-suffix) - so we shouldn't find AB12 34D 
with a priority sticker. We were assured there was never a plan to cease 
collections from the others. The basic idea is to avoid returned test 
kits sitting for ~24 hours and then having to be lugged around by the 
postie - the "D" boxes are emptied at the same time as post is delivered 
nearby and the actual time of collection can vary significantly.

However in some areas priority boxes have an additional sticker 
"SATURDAY AND SUNDAY". Unfortunately the collection times aren't on the 
box, only on the Royal Mail web page, so there doesn't seem to be a 
legitimate way to add the details to OSM. Typically the additional 
collections are 15:00 on both days.  (The selection of the 
Saturday/Sunday boxes is understood to be based on which boxes are 
within an hour of a Mail Centre.)

Given the licencing issue and the temporary (?) nature of these 
arrangements it may be effort should be directed towards mapping 
postboxes which aren't on OSM and checking the ones which are mapped 
still exist and have their other details up-to-date.


Dan