Following Michael Fabricant’s intervention with the Royal Mail (see News
Release dated 8th August) which had planned to alter some post codes in
Burntwood with old postcodes being discontinued by April 2004 after a 12
month overlap period when both old and new codes can be used simultaneously,
Brian Davies – Address Systems Manager, Royal Mail – has informed Mr
Fabricant "we will probably arrange for this transitional period to be
extended for a further 12 months". This would result in the old postcodes
being usable up until April 2005.

"This is a big improvement on what was previously being proposed" says
Michael Fabricant. "The new post codes will still become operational in
April next year, but the Royal Mail have assured me that if the old codes
are still being used after the initial 12 month overlap period, there will
be a further 12 month extension while sorting machines will accept both old
and new codes. This will allow Burntwood businesses and private
individuals to run down old stocks of literature over the next two and a
half years if needs be.

"I appreciate that this is not a perfect solution, but it is far better than
that which was originally being proposed by the post office".