Refurbished west London post office left without post box

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Residents frustrated after refurbished west London post office left without post box

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A post office which recently underwent a refurbishment is missing one vital aspect – a post box.

Confused customers at the Maida Hill Post Office, in Harrow Road, west London, have been posting their letters through a red door next to the branch without realising it is a private address and not a post box.

Post office users who want to mail a letter currently have to enter the branch and wait in line to give it to a teller.

Labour councillors first highlighted the problem in December and wrote an email to the Royal Mail, who are responsible for post boxes, but have not yet received a response.

A second email was sent last month but campaigners have still not received a reply.

Councillor Patricia McCallister said: "I am exasperated by the lack of response from the Post Office.

"It is a very strange situation because the post office was refurbished but it had a post box previously. Because the neighbouring property has a red door, people have started posting letters through that letter box."

Frustrated residents have also been venting their anger.

Liz Martindale, 71, who lives in nearby Harrow Road, said: "It is very annoying. We have always had one for years and years.

"It does seem very odd to have a post office and no post box. I suppose it is to do with privatisation – it is extremely annoying. I often post them down at the tube station now, it is quite a way."

Liam Purcell said: "I have heard of the pub with no beer, but a post office with no post box - someone is having a right laugh."

Royal Mail said it was trying to identify a suitable location for the post box.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: "Due to underground cabling and property basements extending beneath the footpath, it is not possible to install a postbox outside the branch or very close by.

"We are hopeful that we will be able to install a postbox inside the branch, subject to agreement with Post Office Ltd.

"In the meantime, customers can use other postboxes in the area or hand their mail in at any Post Office branch."