ALTHOUGH consultation on the proposed closure of four post offices in Dundee still has more than a month to run, the public should be registering their opposition now, a city councillor has said, writes Brian Allison, local government reporter.

West End ward councillor Jim Barrie, who has two branches in his area facing the axe, urged residents to make their views known as soon as possible.

The West End branches earmarked for closure are in Nethergate and Lochee Road. Also on the list are the Fairmuir office at Clepington Road in the Coldside ward and Ferry Road in Maryfield.

Mr Barrie said he has already had some feedback. “One of the main concerns seems to hinge on the additional distance residents will have to walk to reach the nearest available sub-post office,” he said.

“When raising this point at last week’s meeting with representatives of Post Office Ltd, which was well attended by all local councillors in the affected areas, I highlighted the inconvenience and difficulties this would cause.

Mr Barrie said he had been advised that users of the Lochee Road office could go up to the Brantwood Avenue branch.

“This would be quite an uphill hike and almost impossible for elderly and disabled people and highlighted a lack of local knowledge on the part of the Post Office,” he said.

“It is up one of the steepest roads in Dundee and for those people, if they have no transport, it would be beyond their physical capabilities.”

A six-week consultation period is under way and will run until July 8. “Residents should voice their concerns without delay so that local councillors, Post Office Ltd and (consumer watchdog) Postwatch Scotland can properly consider the representations,” Mr Barrie said.

“The Nethergate and Lochee Road branches are both well used and would be a loss to the community if they were closed.”

A motion by administration leader Kevin Keenan opposing the proposals is due to be put to the policy and resources committee on Monday and is expected to attract all-party support.