TENBURY'S £500,000 project for a One-Stop Resource Centre has hit the buffers following a breakdown between parties involved in the scheme.

Changes to the original plans for a building behind the Post Office, have forced joint postmasters, Malcolm and Susan Chase to pull out, sighting unfairness on the part of the Tenbury Wells Development Trust.

Mr. Chase told the Advertiser "This is about getting a fair deal for everyone. We have only had three meetings to discuss everything involved, now they are want more space than we agreed in the contract.

"It is regrettable, but we are not to blame. Because of flooding it's very difficult to find suitable land this side of the river."

They needed planning permission before they could apply for the grants. It was more likely to be available on the other side of the river, but had a higher value.

" We have tried our utmost to meet the planning requirements of the Environment Agency and the needs of the Post Office business.

Delivery

"As far as the Royal Mail goes, I have to provide space for up to eight delivery vans and for the vehicle bringing the mail from Worcester to reverse up to the sorting office."

Originally planned for the Burgage car park, the project floundered over parking spaces and blocking views of the Pump Rooms. The extra space behind the post office is for a longer ramp."

Cathy Jackson-Read, from Community First, said: " This is a hiccup which has come at a bad time for us, Government Office West Midlands are interested in funding us and we must apply for the second part of the grant, and the offer of post office land has been withdrawn.

"We offered to assist Mr. Chase in his contractual arrangements with the Royal Mail, but he never came back to us; he later withdrew the offer of land.

"It is a set-back but we have something in the pipeline that might be suitable. Either way, we will continue efforts to establish the centre and would welcome approaches from landowners to sell us a modest site in the town centre."