People living on the western side of Wixams can now post letters and parcels locally, thanks to a newly installed solar-powered postbox.
The installation on Meadow Road ends frustrating eight-mile round trips to Houghton Conquest for local people wanting to drop off packages.
Master developer Urban&Civic worked with Royal Mail to bring the postbox to the area next to the play park.
It comes after families moving into Harrowden Green over the past few years highlighted the lack of local postal facilities.
Solar technology
While built in the classic red pillar box design, the new postbox features a modified lid fitted with solar panels.
This green energy powers a digital internal mechanism and drop-down drawer, allowing local people to post parcels up to the size of a shoebox.
Customers simply press a button and scan a pre-paid barcode on their label to open the automated hatch.
The modern box also retains a traditional regular slot for posting standard letters, while proof of posting is available through the Royal Mail app.
Future town centre
Urban&Civic says this installation is just the first step in delivering much-needed social infrastructure for the Bedford Borough community.
Jordan Payne, communications and partnerships manager at Urban&Civic, said: “The pillar box is an icon of the British street, and we’re glad to have helped bring one to this side of Wixams and make it better connected.”
Read: Plans submitted for long-awaited Wixams GP surgery
He added that the developer is “just getting started” delivering facilities, with work beginning on a new play park and green space this month (October).
Planning applications are also progressing for a new town centre, which promises a new GP surgery and supermarket for the growing area.
