Latest news with #RichardFleetwood
Wales Online
18 hours ago
- Wales Online
Post Office warning to passport holders to 'check this early'
Post Office warning to passport holders to 'check this early' A Post Office manager has issued a warning to anyone who is going abroad this summer Passport holders have been urged to check a key date (Image: Getty) A Post Office postmaster has called on people to verify their passports before jetting off on holiday this summer. Richard Fleetwood, who runs the Town Centre Washington Post Office, warned that many families don't check up on the passport validity rules and other entry criteria for where they are going. He advised: "My top tip to all travellers is simple - plan ahead. Be sure to check your passport's expiry date and validity before booking your trip and make sure to always review the travel rules for your destination. "Staying on top of your passport expiry date can save you a lot of stress and disappointment when the trip does arrive. We would recommend that people check their passport and visit their local Post Office early if they need a new passport." It's crucial to check the regulations for your destination country, as many regions demand your passport is valid for a specified duration when you visit. For instance, when travelling to any Schengen zone nations, including EU countries, your passport must have been issued within the past 10 years and have at least three months' validity from your departure date. Schengen nations offer border-free travel to EU citizens. Staff at the Town Centre Washington Post Office process over 70 passport applications monthly on average. A 'quick and easy' process Customers are sometimes surprised at how quick and easy the process is. Mr Fleetwood shared an experience from his branch: "A couple weeks ago a customer came in asking how to renew his passport as it had expired, and he was going on holiday the next month. "He was worried he had left it too late and wouldn't be able to go away with his friends. Our team talked him through the process through our Check & Send service. "He came back to store with everything he needed later that day, and within 10 minutes we had completed his application, checked and sent it. He came back with his new passport to thank us - he couldn't believe how quick and easy we made it." The Check & Send service is as a system whereby the Post Office fills in and submits your application electronically, with no need for paper documents. Article continues below This service is available at 1,100 outlets nationwide. A typical adult passport renewal costs £110.50, incorporating the £16 Check & Send charge. Alternatively, you can renew your passport digitally via the Government website. Getting your passport renewed or replaced costs £94.50 to do online, while doing the paper application costs £107. To renew online, you'll need to have on hand a digital photograph of yourself, payment information from your credit or debit card, and your existing passport details.
Daily Record
18 hours ago
- Daily Record
Tourists face big fines or criminal record for having common item in holiday hotspots
More than 550,000 people in the UK use the item regularly Holiday-makers jetting off abroad have been urged to get clued up on the local rules at their chosen getaway spot. If you carry what appears to be an innocent everyday item, you could land a fine or another criminal penalty. Travellers who depend on nicotine pouches must exercise extreme caution when visiting France or certain other EU countries in the coming months, as the nation has banned the product completely, including for personal consumption. Nicotine pouch maker KLAR has sounded the alarm that with British users topping 590,000 and climbing, families must stay alert. Both Germany and the Netherlands have also introduced total prohibitions on nicotine pouches. Local legislation can change quickly, making it crucial to check official government advice and relevant embassy websites before departure. The firm warned that being caught with the pouches could result in "fines, confiscation, or even criminal penalties". For those intending to travel with nicotine pouches, KLAR's chief risk reduction officer Tomas Hammargren shared some guidance. He recommended keeping pouches in their original packaging to help border officials quickly see what you have with you, which should hopefully speed up the inspection procedure. Another recommendation is to assess whether your particular product is appropriate for air travel. One advantage of nicotine pouches like KLAR is their absence of liquids or batteries, meaning they are secure for both hand luggage and hold luggage, without risk of spillages or battery-related problems. You should also check the airline's policies regarding when you can use the product. Nicotine pouches are frequently allowed while vaping typically isn't. You can check with the cabin crew about this before departure. It's equally crucial to plan ahead concerning the amount you take with you. Many countries will have restricted or no availability of nicotine alternatives to cigarettes, so it's wise to pack sufficient supplies with you. Travel experts at the Post Office have also recently recommended people check whether they need to renew their passport before travelling. Richard Fleetwood, postmaster at Town Centre Washington Post Office, warned that in his experience many families are oblivious to the rules about passport validity and the particular requirements that apply in their destination country. He said: "My top tip to all travellers is simple - plan ahead. Be sure to check your passport's expiry date and validity before booking your trip and make sure to always review the travel rules for your destination. "Staying on top of your passport expiry date can save you a lot of stress and disappointment when the trip does arrive. We would recommend that people check their passport and visit their local Post Office early if they need a new passport." Those heading to any Schengen zone countries, including EU destinations, must have a passport that was issued within the past 10 years, and it needs to have at least three months' validity from your departure date.
BBC News
07-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Chester-le-Street's post office temporarily saved from closure
A high street post office, which is one of only a handful to feature the cypher of Edward VIII, has been temporarily saved from Front Street branch in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was among 115 to be put at risk as part of a business restructure. The Post Office has now confirmed the branch will be taken over by franchisee Richard Fleetwood who already runs sites in Newcastle, Hebburn and Washington. It said the branch would continue to operate on the same site until "long-term arrangements" were finalised. North Durham Labour MP Luke Akehurst said he had been told any move to a new location was unlikely to happen before spring 2026 and this would be subject to a local public previously said the building, which dates back to 1936, holds "historical significance" due to its links with the king who was never crowned and who abdicated later that year to marry Wallis shake-up of the Post Office's branch network was revealed by the company's chairman Nigel Railton in government-owned business has 11,500 branches across the most sites are franchises, 108 of them are currently owned directly by the was feared some branches would be permanently shut but in April the firm announced the sites would be taken over by franchisees subject to government funding. Other Crown Post Offices being taken over by Mr Fleetwood in north-east England include branches in South Shields and Sunderland.
North Wales Chronicle
03-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
New postmaster at Caernarfon post office for the ‘near-term'
The post office is to be operated by franchisee RF Retail, under postmaster Richard Fleetwood who has more than 20 years' experience in retail and the Post Office, and whose father and grandfather were also both postmasters. An email from the Post Office, shown to the Chronicle, read that this arrangement will take place 'in the near term' until the branch's long-term future is secured. The email added: 'Franchising the branch now will enable us to unlock funds to increase postmaster remuneration sooner, while minimizing disruption for the local community. 'In practice, this means that the branch will continue to operate from the same premises while the long-term permanent proposal is confirmed, with customers being able to access the same products and services with the same opening hours. 'In parallel, we will work with RF Retail over the remainder of this financial year to review the right long-term premises for your branch, which will either be at the existing site or a new site nearby. 'In the event of a new site being proposed, any move to a new location is unlikely to be before spring 2026 and would be subject to local public consultation in line with our Principles of Community Engagement.' Mr Fleetwood operates six Post Office branches, while his mother also had several senior roles managing sites across the UK. RF Retail's Post Office journey began when it opened its first store in the north-east of England in September 2020, meanwhile. Liz Saville Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said: 'I welcome the news that a prospective franchisee has come forward with the intention of running Caernarfon Post Office, providing a short-term solution to the uncertainty facing the branch. 'It should be appreciated that throughout this campaign, local people wanted to see Post Office services safeguarded in Caernarfon town centre. 'They place an immense value on the convenience of being able to pop into their local branch whether for their business or personal needs. 'Whilst this announcement provides a certain level of certainty, there remains a number of questions surrounding the long-term sustainability of the branch. 'Has there been any assessment of the specific banking needs of the local community, specifically, what provision will be in place to meet the needs of Welsh-language customers? 'What options are being explored to source a long-term location for the branch, including access needs? 'Above all else, what assurances have been provided to current staff about their future employment? 'If, as has been suggested, the branch will temporarily remain at the current location, will staff be retained? 'I will be seeking further clarity about the exact business model going forward to ensure a sustainable, long-term outcome for the local community – one which puts the needs of local Post Office customers first.''
