A new hope for Leland residents, as a new post office could be established

LELAND, N.C. (WWAY)–A possible new postal service facility could be coming to Brunswick County; it’s a move many hope will improve long-standing mail issues in the area.

The project is still in its early stages, but if approved, it could be a sigh of relief for residents in Leland and who have been complaining about the unpredictability in their mail.

For many residents in Leland, mail delivery has become a growing frustration.

Some say their mail doesn’t arrive until late in the afternoon, while others report not receiving letters at all. In some cases, residents have even driven to Wilmington to retrieve their mail—only to be turned away.

“Sometimes I don’t get my mail until after 3,” one resident said. Another added, “They have not been coming to my mailbox lately.”

Town officials say help could be on the way.

Leland Town Council member Leland Hyer said the town was recently asked to review site plans for a possible U.S. Postal Service facility on Hazel Branch Road. It is still unclear whether the project would be a full post office or a distribution center.

Either way, Hyer said it could be a step toward addressing ongoing service issues.

“For the last several years, I have had neighbors and friends and colleagues tell me that there is a problem with the Postal Service that is irregular, that the facility is inadequate,” Hyer said.

The strain on the system has also affected postal workers. At one point, USPS employees were forced to sort mail in outdoor tents to keep up with demand.

Hyer said he hopes a new facility, if approved, would bring relief sooner rather than later.

“I certainly hope that we will have a new post office. I certainly hope that we’ll have a new distribution facility in North Brunswick County, and I think we need it soon,” he said.

For Hyer, the issue is also personal.

“When I get a handwritten note from my mother, even though it took a week, I’m so glad to get it, because it’s real,” he said.

The site sits in an unincorporated part of Brunswick County; multiple towns have been involved in the process. Officials say the project could be a major step toward improving mail service for residents in Leland, Belville, Navassa, Northwest, and nearby communities.