Dundee East.....again

[POSTMAN]

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'I think it's ridiculous': queues and complaints once again at Dundee East Royal Mail depot

A queue once again snaked out of the Dundee East Royal Mail depot on Saturday.



In temperatures hovering around freezing, a line of people waited patiently to pick up their undelivered parcels from postal staff.

It was a similar scene last week when customers were forced to stand outside with only enough room for a handful at a time in the indoor waiting area.

The office closes in the early afternoon on most days, resulting in a huge number of customers arriving in the morning.

Now, Royal Mail bosses are facing calls from unhappy customers to take action.

Many are upset over the lack of available customer parking and also want to be better sheltered from the elements.

Helen Foggarty arrived at the depot in the West Pitkerro Industrial Estate to find a lengthy queue.

''I think it's ridiculous,'' she told The Courier. ''There should be shelter for people waiting out in the open.

''There will be only one man on and that's what will be holding things up.''

Christmas is the busiest time of year for Royal Mail staff, with a huge amount of parcels ordered online.

Jackie Soutar was one of those to travel from her home in Kellas to pick up a parcel at the weekend.

She said that although she did not have to stand for long, she agreed there was a serious lack of parking.

''Once you were inside, they were really quite quick,'' she continued. ''But the parking is a problem; there not many spaces around here.''

Royal Mail spokeswoman Julie Pirone apologised to customers for the delays and said opening hours would be extended.

''Delivery offices will open for longer from today at Dundee East and Dundee West,'' she said.

''We will also be redelivering items on Sundays up until Christmas.

''Dundee East will open from 6.30am to 7.30pm every working day until Christmas Eve.

''Dundee West will open every working day from 8am to 6pm and until 8pm on Wednesdays before Christmas.

''We will also be open on Christmas Eve.

''Customers can also have their item redelivered free on a day of their choice or to another address in the same postcode area.''

Meanwhile, police have placed traffic cones on many of the surrounding streets, prohibiting parking, but the vast number of motorists observed on Saturday chose to ignore the traffic order.

One man described trying to find a space as a ''nightmare.''

The matter is due to be discussed by councillors sitting on the City Council's development committee this evening.

Lochee councillor Tom Ferguson has voiced his concern with Neil Gellatly, head of Dundee City Council's transportation department.

''There have been a few complaints regarding both the mail depots at Dundee East and West,'' he said.

''This latest one has a few peculiarities with regard to parking and the opportunity to discuss this will come on Monday night.

''I recently approached Neil Gellatly about this, as there are a few issues regarding the ownership of the area.''

[P13]

Police put the traffic cones out months ago because a business in the industrial estate complained about Royal Mail customers and staff parking in the estate . as for providing shelter for customers they could always clear out the lwt trolley graveyard , and yes 2 years on Dundee East is still an utter shambles

[taxi4leighton]

i live in dundee east
the callers office is open all day now
but the they are still using old p739s
so customers think callers office close at 2pm