Portsmouth leaders offer Central Library as temporary Royal Mail collection centre

Officers met Royal Mail staff today and made an offer to provide a counter at a secure area at the back of the library in the city centre.

The space has good access to parking and is being offered free of charge during the busy Christmas period.

It comes after Tory council Leader, Councillor Donna Jones, vowed at the latest full council meeting to find a public building to create another collection point for customers following scores of complaints about the company’s new Voyager Park hub, off Anchorage Park in the north of the city.

Customers have voiced frustrations over long queues, poor transport access and the fact there are no disabled facilities at the new centre – which Royal Mail unveiled as part of a modernisation of its service following the closure of its Slindon Street and Northern Road branches.

Cllr Jones said: ‘We’re delighted to be able to offer Royal Mail space at Central Library for customer collections, as we approach the busiest time of year.

‘Having a central collection point in town will make everyone’s lives a little easier in the run-up to Christmas, so we hope that Royal Mail will take us up on the offer.’