A FURIOUS war of words has erupted after a Conservative councillor accused Labour of ‘wrecking’ his calls for council chiefs to meet with the city centre mail bosses to deal with the long queues at the High Street post office.
Coun Alan Amos branded the move by Coun Richard Udall who asked for the proposal to include a wider debate on the nationalisation of the Post Office at the recent meeting of the city council a ‘stupid party political game’.
However the Labour St Johns councillor hit back at the comments and accused the Tories of ‘childish behaviour’.
Speaking during the debate, Coun Amos said: “I find it unacceptable people say to me they use the post office in St Johns now rather than the one in the centre of the High Street.
“Let me be clear I don’t blame the staff for these queues, they are the result of decisions made away from Worcester. This attempt to force people into a service they don’t want doesn’t work.”
“We need to focus on the need to reduce queues, make the machines easier to use and offer a full compliment of staff on the counters,” he added.
In response, Coun Udall said: “I am in total agreement with Coun Amos, the service there is dire. I am surprised he has not mentioned the complaints about the lift being contstantly out of use.
“The residents of Dines Green, Lower Wick and Henwick Road would love to be able to queue at a post office but theirs has been closed.
“I have long suggested a mobile post office which could tour the city and surrounding villages to set up shop at regular times, it’s done elsewhere in the country it could be done in Worcester.”
The St Johns councillor called for a cross-party scrutiny exercise at County Hall on a committee he chaired, much to the anger of Coun Amos.
“I question whether that is in order as the agenda for that committee has been agreed by Worcestershire County Council,” he said.
“On the basis of the council constitution therefore, I withdraw the motion. I will not have it destroyed and torn up in a blatant attempt by some people to get some publicity.”
Speaking after the meeting, Coun Amos said: “The end result of all this is that the people of Worcester are the losers because the City Council will not now be doing anything to deal with the excessive waiting times at our post office.”
Coun Udall said he wanted to work with Coun Amos on a new plea which could be brought before the council in the new year.
“Offering co-operation and support to address all of our concerns about the service is hugely important,” he said.
“The Conservatives only want to talk about queuing in one post office not about the service as a whole. Childish behaviour.”
