THE leader of the Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has said he is concerned about the 'shocking' postal delivery problems in Andover.

Frustrated residents raised concerns in July about the impact of these delays on their daily lives, including missed medical appointments, delayed communications, and mounting inconvenience.

In response to the grievances, a Royal Mail spokesperson at the time acknowledged the delays and expressed regret to the affected residents.

Despite this, many are still facing the same issues as anger continues to grow.

The leader of TVBC Cllr Phil North spoke to the Advertiser about the problems.

READ MORE: Royal Mail addresses postal delivery issues in Andover

He said: “I’ve followed up several times with the senior public affairs manager at Royal Mail, Michael Hogg, about the poor postal service we’re all experiencing in Andover. In fact, it’s been shockingly bad.

"His most recent letter indicated that they are starting to get to grips with recruitment, but frankly, the mail isn’t being delivered as regularly as I’m being told it now should be, which is especially concerning for people who are missing medical appointments as a result."

Cllr North continued: "Despite the challenges, thank you to our hardworking posties for doing their best during this difficult time - and I hope the new recruits will help turn things around in short order. I will keep pressing the case on behalf of local residents.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We are sorry to residents in Andover who have experienced delays. Our priority is our quality of service and we are committed to ensuring deliveries are reliable and on time.

SEE ALSO: LETTER: Collection changes are another step in Royal Mail downfall

"The majority of customers served by the local delivery office receive their mail on a daily basis. However, some mail has been impacted by resourcing issues driven by higher levels of vacancies than usual and sick absences.

“We would like to reassure residents that everything is being done to keep delays to a minimum. Anyone who has mail and does not receive it on the day they expect will be prioritised the following day. A recruitment campaign has also been underway with new starters expected.”