West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has criticised delays which will see the delay of the new Tenbury Post Office until after Christmas. The new Post Office is due to be opened in the Spar store in Teme Street, but the Post Office has yet to start the consultation which will see the appointment confirmed. Although the retailer is ready to start the shop conversion process, work cannot start until local stakeholders are consulted on the proposal to move the franchise from the now redundant shop at Bowkett’s. Until then, local residents will need to rely on the temporary mobile service which visits the town on Tuesday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30 pm parking by the town’s swimming pool. Harriett commented: “This is hugely frustrating news for local people and I’m afraid that the delays are all down to red-tape. “I’ve been urging the Post Office to get on with the consultation process for several months but now, as they approach Christmas, it is clear that we will not get a new Post Office counter service in operation in its new home ahead of the festive peak season. “I share the frustration of local people, who will now have to rely on a mobile service visiting the town just one afternoon a week in the run up to Christmas. This despite three separate companies bidding to open a Post Office. It beggars belief and I will be tabling questions in Parliament.”