Royal Mail's new strategy to help Dundee East

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Royal Mail is delivering letters and parcels on alternate days in Dundee East in an effort to clear its massive postal backlog.

Communication Workers' Union leader Willie Lawson said it was the best way of trying to cope with the heavy volume of mail which has built up since the snow arrived.

The mail mountain first grew at the troubled Dundee East depot last month after a new delivery system was introduced.

It saw posties teamed up to deliver letters and parcels from vans and golf trolleys in larger rounds, but they struggled to complete their work on time.

Each day they returned to the depot with undelivered mail, which piled up.

The first backlog was nearly cleared after extra staff were drafted in, mail was sent to other depots for sorting and parcels were delivered on Sundays.

The severe weather arrived last weekend to undo all the progress, however.

Mail lorries have been unable to get through and postal staff have been unable to go on their rounds.

Mr Lawson said, "There are problems in Dundee East but there are problems all over the country.

"The main depot in Edinburgh was closed by the severe weather so that affected the distribution of mail all over Scotland."

He added, "In the run-up to Christmas, the mail has built up all over the country and that includes Dundee East again."

Readers' complaints

Mr Lawson said, "The nature of the work is such that decisions are being taken to deliver mail and parcels on alternate days because that is often the best way to keep the service going.

"There can be a lot of letters but not many parcels and vice versa, so it is better to concentrate on one type one day and the other type the next."

He added, "Every morning Royal Mail do a risk assessment to see what the conditions are like and work out the best way to keep the service going."

The Courier has been inundated with complaints from readers unhappy at delays in mail deliveries in the DD4 and DD5 areas.

Mame Ramsay of Finavon Terrace in Fintry said, "I celebrated my 74th birthday on Tuesday and had just one card — my husband's.

"The majority of my family and friends live in England and they had posted their cards a week ago by first class mail yet nothing has arrived."

Gordon Kohler of Grange Gardens, Monifieth, is also experiencing major problems.

He said, "I run a business from home — or at least I am trying to — but have only had one mail delivery since November 25.

"I have been to try to pick up my mail but I was told that as they had put it in crates they could not find it."

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie is awaiting new dates for a meeting with Royal Mail senior management from Edinburgh after two earlier meetings were cancelled due to bad weather.

He will bring to the attention of the senior management the details of several dozen cases raised with him by constituents.