Local councillors say they hope problems that blighted mail deliveries in the east of Dundee last winter can be avoided this year.
Broughty Ferry councillor Derek Scott and East End representative Christina Roberts are hopeful that deliveries should be trouble-free following Royal Mail’s announcement it will take on 20 temporary workers throughout the festive period.
The company confirmed it would be drafting in the seasonal staff to help at the Dundee East delivery office.
Heavy snow caused huge problems in Tayside and Fife last winter, a problem exacerbated in Dundee where teething problems created by the implementation of a new delivery system saw residents go for days at a time without receiving any letters or parcels.
Mr Scott told The Courier that while he will reserve judgment on the impact that the additional staff may have, he hopes that last year’s problems will be eradicated.
”I would think that 20 people does not seem to be that many given the problems that we had last year,” he said. ”I’m keeping my fingers crossed though.
”In my time as a councillor I have never had as many complaints as I did with the post last winter. It was well into three figures.
”The timing of the new practices and weather, as well as being the peak time of mail, all came at once.
”Public confidence in the service does seem to be returning but I will remain cautious until I see how they perform this winter.
”Things are certainly moving in the right direction but an extra 20 staff does not seem like a huge amount to me.”
The Royal Mail confirmed temporary staff would be recruited at depots at Dundee and Dunfermline to deal with the Christmas rush.
The company told The Courier some 20 posts would be based at the Dundee East delivery office, with a similar number taken on in west Fife.
Christina Roberts says she suspects there are lingering problems with the new delivery system, but added: “I’m hoping that an extra 20 people might help things.
“A lot of the people last year were not from the area and were having to ask directions to certain streets. I’m optimistic that things will be better this year though.”
Royal Mail intends to recruit around 18,000 temporary staff throughout Britain this festive period 2000 fewer than in 2010.
Last Christmas over 70,000 people sought temporary work with the company.