Post offices to face Christmas crush, says MP

[Geezer]

Post offices to face Christmas crush, says MP
http://www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/conte ... 3A34%3A063

29 October 2008
A Christmas crush in Haringey post offices has been predicted because a post chief says staffing levels will not be increased for the festive season.

Hornsey and Wood Green Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone branded the decision "ridiculous" following the closure of four out of her constituency's 10 post offices.

Ms Featherstone said: "It is completely ridiculous to claim that no extra staff will be needed for the Christmas rush. There could be real pandemonium without thorough planning now. Christmas can be stressful enough without the extra worry over whether friends and family will get their gifts on time."

In a letter to Ms Featherstone, Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier said they would extend staff working hours and possibly improve opening hours. He said: "We remain confident that those branches in your constituency that have been retained in our network have the capacity to meet the predicted additional customer footfall."

A Post Office Ltd spokesman said additional resources would include more staff hours, suspension of annual leave and wider opening hours. He said: "In our agency branches we are providing guidelines for postmasters as how best to deal with the increase in traffic and in busier branches, we will provide on the ground support by way of queue hosting.

"We are confident that the measures we are taking will ensure that we operate at maximum capacity.

[tomangoe]

What the hell is "queuebhosting" ?