BY DAVID MCKAY
Published: 15/04/2011
MAIL SLOT: Royal Mail’s Derek Angus, left, and Eric Davidson face questions on Westhill sorting office. Colin Rennie
Residents in an Aberdeenshire community were left frustrated last night after a meeting with postal bosses failed to calm fears that the area could lose its mail sorting office.
Representatives of the Royal Mail Group attended a meeting of Westhill and Elrick Community Council to hear the views of local people.
Locals are worried that the Enterprise Road sorting office will be closed and relocated away from Westhill when the lease expires in September.
Eric Davidson, from the Royal Mail Group, told an audience of around 30 people at the Westhill Holiday Inn that it was too early to say if that would happen.
He said: “We are looking at what is available, but no decisions have been made as yet.
“What I can say is that there will be no loss of service."
A Royal Mail spokeswoman had previously said that the current site – located in an industrial estate dominated by engineering and construction firms – was unsuitable from a health and safety viewpoint.
Community council deputy chairwoman Audrey Findlay said she was “disappointed" that the representatives could not provide a more definitive answer.
She said: “I appreciate the site may be unsuitable for health and safety and other reasons, but this is a very important service for the local community."
Addressing the Royal Mail Group representatives, local councillor Ron McKail said: “I don't think you understand how frustrated people are about not knowing what is going to happen to our post office."
Community council chairman Ian Forsyth said: “I find it amazing that we have not been consulted.
“Westhill has been let down in the past by sham consultations – the community council wants to be active and work in partnership with local businesses."
One resident in the audience suggested that the postal service consider looking at an office building currently lying empty on Peregrine Road.
Mr Davidson replied that he would relay the comments back to the head office of the Royal Mail Group, and would return for the June meeting of the community council.
He said: “I fully appreciate the level of concern locally and I would hope to have more information for you in June."
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