Delays to the installation of an Oyster card top-up machine in a busy shopping centre have been labelled “totally unacceptable”.

Plans were initially scheduled to set up the machine at Brent Cross shopping centre in June this year and, when this deadline was missed, a second deadline of November was set.

However, Transport for London has now written to the manager of Brent Cross informing him the installation has been delayed for a second time to January 2017.

The lack of machine currently acts as a deterrent to shoppers who run out of Oyster credit but wish to use the buses coming in and out of the interchange.

London Assembly member for Barnet and Camden Andrew Dismore has written to Val Shawcross, deputy mayor of London for transport, to request the machines are installed as a priority.

He said: “Another delay is totally unacceptable. It was months of arguing before TfL agreed to do the work but first June and now November’s deadline has been missed. 

“Brent Cross centre is not near to the tube station, and it is a real deterrent to shoppers coming to Brent Cross they cannot top up their Oyster cards at the bus station.

“It is inconceivable, and has gone on too long that such a major bus terminus is without a top-up machine.”

Mr Dismore had expressed hopes the machine would be installed in time for the busy Christmas shopping season.

Since Spring 2016, TfL has been working on a project to install ticket machines at major bus stations, which would sell Oyster cards and provide top-ups and refunds.

Chief technology officer at Tfl Shashi Verma said: "Due to the more complex nature of installing these new machines within operational bus stations, the roll-out is unfortunately taking slightly longer than originally thought. 

"Brent Cross bus station remains a priority and we expect the new machines to be up and running in early 2017.”

Machines will be installed at other key bus stations across London in the first half of 2017.

Has the lack of Oyster machines put you off shopping in Brent Cross? Let us know in the comments or at rhys.handley@newsquest.co.uk.