Last night at West End Community Council, Ian McKay, Scottish Affairs Manager at Royal Mail, spoke to a well-attended community council meeting on the continuing concerns that the Community Council and I have with mail collection, following the closure of the Crichton Street Collection Office.
Although the Edward Street West End residents it is not a convenient location. It is not an easy walk for an elderly person travelling by bus. From both the 17 and 22 services' routes, the walk is hilly in places.
Significantly more worrying, people in the large DD2 area in the West End and elsewhere in Dundee West and in the DD3 area elsewhere in the west of the city now have to use the Baird Avenue Baird Avenue
Mr McKay, although indicating Royal Mail would continue to "look at" the issue, gave no commitment to do what the Community Council and I would like to see happen - that residents in the West End part of DD2 at least get to collect items from the much-nearer Edward Street depot than the much further away and inaccessible Baird Avenue facility. However, he did say that a trial in Edinburgh of a new method of Royal Mail customers being able to opt to have items left with a neighbour (as Royal Mail's competitors already offer) was proving successful and should the Regulator allow its general introduction across the UK, this would at least allow for an additional way of undelivered mail being re-delivered.
I read part of a letter from a West End constituent to the meeting as follows :
The outcome of the meeting does not give from Royal Mail what I or the Community Council wish to see - a good, local collection point for the West End. I will continue to campaign for this on behalf of our local community.