FRUSTRATED residents who have had post suspended to their flats have questioned whether council plans to introduce communal letter boxes will happen.

After almost two months, residents on Holly Road, Risca, have become impatient at the Royal Mail who are still refusing to deliver post due to “crime in the area”.

The Argus previously reported that during a public debate - held in July - some councillors said that ground-level communal letter boxes for each block of flats was being considered.

Cllr Phillipa Leonard - who chaired the meeting at St David’s Church - previously said: “We hope that it is given the go-ahead.

“It would involve letter boxes being placed at the bottom of the stairs with keys attached.

“That way postmen would not have to visit individual flats.”

However Holly Road resident Chester Chaffey claims he has since been told that communal letter boxes would not happen.

He said: “Postal workers told me it’s not happening. Apparently it would cost too much money - it would cost about £1,000 per box. And there’s twenty blocks on this street.

“The council needs to sort itself out. I’ve been without post for nearly two months.

“I liked the idea of the boxes because it meant I would get post.”

He added: “It’s outrageous that the plan isn’t going ahead.”

Sue Blake, also a resident in the area, said she doubted that the plan will “come off”.

“I don’t think it will happen,” said Mrs Blake.

“Why would it take this long to sort?

“I’m upset that we have no post.”

Another resident, who does not wish to be named, added his frustration.

“I can’t believe the council has not sorted this out.

“This needs sorting now.”

A council spokeswoman from Caerphilly council said: “We are still looking into the possibility of providing external or communal area post boxes.

“However we also continue to liaise with Royal Mail to try to identify alternative solutions for residents.”

A spokeswoman for the Royal Mail, Sally Hopkins, said: “We are still liaising with the council and looking at all options to enable us to resume deliveries to residents as soon as it is safe for our postmen and women to do so. In the meantime, customers are able to collect mail from our delivery office, or request us to deliver it to an alternative address in the area.”