Post Offices - news update

Following the meeting between Dundee City Councillors and Post Office Limited yesterday, I've now written to the other West End City Councillors suggesting a West End cross-party campaign to co-ordinate efforts to save the threatened Post Offices at Lochee Road and Nethergate, Dundee.

I was pleased that all four West End Ward councillors had attended the meeting with Post Office Limited and that there had been an excellent cross-party and cross-city turnout of councillors.

All four West End Councillors have made clear our total opposition to the loss of these Post Offices and I have taken the step of writing to my colleagues suggesting we meet next week to discuss a joint approach to maximise the effort to save the Post Offices in our area. I have no doubt we will all wish individually to make our own representations to Post Office Limited, but a co-ordinated effort is really needed in terms of the campaign.

Post Office Limited made clear that it would listen to any hard evidence and therefore I have already been in touch with the City Council Assistant Chief Executive requesting he provide evidence-based information that we can use to make the case to retain the Post Offices.

I believe there will be clear evidence that comes forward to support retention of these Post Offices. For example, the Nethergate Post Office is sited in an increasing busy cultural quarter, with the new Alliance Trust UK Headquarters to be shortly completed nearby – a £12m investment, bringing many new workers into the immediately adjacent area. It is also adjacent to the University campus, Dundee Contemporary Arts and Dundee Rep – an area with an increasing, not reducing, customer base.

In the case of Lochee Road Post Office, it is clear that Post Office Limited has failed to take into account the challenges that would face the large elderly population close by – for example from the Tullideph sheltered housing – as the “alternative” Post Offices they claim people can use are neither close by or easily accessible for the citizens who presently use Lochee Road.

I have also been in correspondence with Postwatch Scotland, and append the latest exchanges below :

From Postwatch to me :

30 May 2008

Dear Councillor Macpherson

Network Change Programme

Thank you for contacting us about the proposed closure of Nethergate and Lochee Road Post Office.

Postwatch Scotland is pleased that you will be forwarding a copy of your formal response to us in due course.

Postwatch Scotland's focus will be on whether Post Office Ltd's proposals meet the newly introduced minimum access criteria for post offices which aim to ensure communities are within a reasonable distance from a post office.

We will also check that local factors – such as public transport arrangements, pertinent topographical features, demographics and the impact on the local economy – have been properly considered. However, I should make you aware that Postwatch Scotland does not have the power to overturn Post Office Ltd's final decision on any closure.

Any information that you provide regarding these proposals will help to influence our final response at the end of the consultation period.

If we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Yours sincerely

Emma Swithenbank

Postwatch Scotland Administrator

My response to Postwatch :

Thanks Emma; I have already been in touch with our City Council Assistant Chief Executive asking him to look for evidence-based information that we can use to make the case to retain the Post Offices in my ward.

I believe there will be clear evidence that comes forward to support retention of these Post Offices.

For example, the Nethergate Post Office is sited in an increasing busy cultural quarter, with the new Alliance Trust UK Headquarters to be shortly completed nearby – a £12m investment, bringing many new workers into the immediately adjacent area.

In the case of Lochee Road Post Office, it is clear that Post Office Limited has failed to take into account the challenges that would face the large elderly population close by – for example from the Tullideph sheltered housing – as the “alternative” Post Offices cited are neither close by or easily accessible for the citizens who presently use Lochee Road. Pertinent topographical features make, for example, Blackness Road Post Office difficult for the elderly and less mobile to get to from the Lochee Road area.

It is clear from the meeting elected members in Dundee had with Post Office Limited yesterday, that there is a great strength of feeling amongst city councillors of all political persuasions that the proposals are unacceptable and would lead to significant problems for the communities involved. I am very grateful, therefore, for Postwatch Scotland’s close interest in this issue.

Best regards

Fraser

Cllr Fraser Macpherson
Councillor for the West End
Convener of Planning and Transport - Dundee City Council