Cost of sending letters to rise

The cost of sending a letter on the island will increase by 2p in April

Postal charges in the Isle of Man are to increase next month for the first time in two years.

The cost of a local letter will rise by 2p to 30p from 1 April but the price to the UK will remain unchanged at 31p.

However, a single tariff will replace the two zone scheme for posting abroad, making it cheaper to send mail to the Pacific, Far East and Australasia.

The rates for Special Delivery, Airmail and International Surface Mail as well as ancillary services will also rise.

The overall affect of the price changes equates to an increase in postage income of 3.6% for the Isle of Man Post Office.

Chairman of Isle of Man Post Office, Pamela Crowe MLC, said: "It is always a matter of regret when we are forced to increase our prices but I am afraid that increases in our costs make them unavoidable.

"The overall increase is less than inflation rates and 45% of postings are unchanged."