By Grant Smith

THE MAN IN charge of the Post Office is being urged to cut “unacceptable” waiting times at Dundee’s main branch.

Adam Crozier is also facing a call from Councillor Fraser Macpherson to release any documents it used to try to persuade watchdog Postwatch that it could cope with the knock-on effect of closing four branches.

The Nethergate, Lochee Road, Fairmuir and Ferry Road offices were shut as part of a national closure programme aimed at shoring up the Post Office’s finances.

Since then there have been persistent complaints from customers using the Ward Road branch in the city centre of long queues and insufficient counter staff.

Mr Macpherson said, “The staff at the office do an excellent job but the bottom line is that the Post Office’s assurances that closing offices in Nethergate and Lochee Road would not result in longer waiting times at Ward Road has been shown to be false.

“It appears that increased staffing at peak times has not been provided.

“No-one should have to wait the length of time constituents are rightly complaining about.”

He said the city council asked Postwatch to request a suspension of the closures on the grounds that Post Office management had not fully considered all the evidence.

This did not happen, however, and Postwatch—which has been incorporated into the new, multi-purpose watchdog Consumer Focus—said it was sent an action plan giving assurances that, with appropriate staffing, the remaining branches would be able to cope with extra custom.

Mr Macpherson was disappointed “the so-called Post Office watchdog proved to be pretty worthless.”

He added, “I think it’s about time that this so-called evidence was publicly available, because it is clear from what has actually happened since the post office closures that there are increased waiting times at the GPO.

“Post Office Ltd gave us assurances that this wouldn’t happen but the reality is that it has. I want to know what the chief executive is going to do to ensure that customer waiting times at peak hours are improved.

“Constituents have complained about 25 to 35 minutes’ waiting time, which is completely unacceptable.”

In his letter, he has criticised “completely misleading assurances” on the impact of the closures.

He has also asked what steps will be taken to ensure satisfactory waiting times at Ward Road.

The city council did consider taking legal action against branch closures, but after a review of attempts by other councils, its legal officers decided it had little prospect of success.

Mr Macpherson said, “The whole consultation process lacked transparency and Post Office Ltd has given assurances to Postwatch’s successor that have been shown to be inaccurate.”