Perth and Kinross post office "meltdown" must be stopped

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Councillors crank up pressure on bosses

Councillors are turning up the heat on Post Office bosses saying several unplanned closures had brought “meltdown” to other branches.

Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Wilson, Peter Barrett and Lewis Simpson all issued statements yesterday saying recent closures in Perth and nearby Scone are seriously affecting standards of service elsewhere in the city.

They reckon customers are piling into the few remaining offices still open in Perth, putting more pressure and strain on already over-stretched staff.

All three have now written to senior management seeking an urgent meeting to find out if and when closed offices in Craigie, Letham and Scone will open again amid concern the longer they stay shut the less chance they will actually reopen.

The Post Office has previously said it is “working hard” to restore services and has repeatedly apologised over the last few months for inconveniencing customers through closures.

Councillor Wilson said: “We urgently need a meeting with senior management in the Post Office.

“The situation has now got to meltdown where virtually every office is closed, either temporarily or otherwise, and the strain and pressure is very much on those Post Offices that remain open.

“From personal experience I know that the staff in McColl’s shop in Oakbank are working extremely hard to cope with the extra demand that the closure of both Letham and Craigie has created.

“The situation in Craigie is even worse. The Post Office is closed yet again and all the explanation we have had from Post Office HQ is that this is a temporary closure and that they are trying to re-instate the service as soon as possible.

“Unfortunately the shop itself in Abbot Street is closed and this does not bode well for the future.”


Strathmore councillor Lewis Simpson added: “As a former postmaster I am particularly disappointed that Post Office Ltd has allowed this situation to arise despite being fully aware of customer service issues.

“Unfortunately Post Office Ltd seem not to have provided adequate training or support to new operators.

“Good customer service seems to be of no interest to greedy senior management who enjoy bumper pay packets at a time when Post Office operators are expected to provide some services at their own expense while loyal customers have to travel to find a Post Office which is open.”

Perth City Centre councillor Peter Barrett agreed.

He said: “The Post Office seem incapable of maintaining a resilient service which meets the needs of local communities.

“Their communication is abysmal. We have heard all the platitudes about resolving difficulties in Perth before but the Post Office just lurch from crisis to crisis.

“Local residents and businesses are having to endure extended interruption to service which is simply not
good enough.”