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The borough council spoke out after the Post Office confirmed that the delays had been caused by concerns raised by Royal Mail about the collections of letters and parcels from the branch.
In a letter sent to MP Luke Murphy, the company responded to calls for clarity on the delays from the politician after residents raised concerns.
READ MORE: Mail collection concerns to blame for delay of town centre post office opening
A spokesperson for the Post Office said that before a new branch can reopen, there are ‘a number of key components that have to be in place’, including arrangements for the collection of mail.
During final preparations for the opening of the branch, the company says that Royal Mail raised concerns about its capacity to provide the service.
It added that the postal service company had identified a possible solution, but that an agreement would be required with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
A spokesperson for Royal Mail previously told the Gazette: “Royal Mail is currently in discussions with the Council to agree how we can safely load our vehicles near the new Post Office.”
READ MORE: ‘Absolutely unacceptable’: Residents slam delays to town centre post office opening
Now, the co-leader of the council, Cllr Gavin James, has expressed that they want to work as quickly as possible to aid the opening of the new Post Office.
He said: “We know how important it is for our residents to have a Post Office branch in the town centre, and we worked quickly with the Post Office to secure a new location for these services that our residents rely on.
“We are waiting for the lease to be signed by the franchisee and are keen to sort out any issues urgently, including a solution for Royal Mail to safely load and unload deliveries, to ensure the branch can open for residents as quickly as possible.”
