COMPLAINTS about accessiblity and queueing continue to plague the Cavendish Square Post Office.

The branch moved round the corner and squeezed into an existing newsagent, but attempts to mitigate problems predicted before the downsizing seem to have failed.

Some customers on mobility scooters have had trouble getting into the shop and queues have sometimes stretched out the door.

People in the queues took cover under the bus shelter during recent downpours. Parks and East Walcot Community Forum secretary Martin Wicks said people on scooters were turned away because there was no room or nobody to help them in.

He said: “It is no satisfaction to know that the problems envisaged have quickly emerged.

“In order for the shop to be fully accessible for disabled people there should ideally be automatic doors. A Citizens Advice Bureau report suggests that, in the absence of that, there should be a button outside for people to ring and indicate to staff that they need assistance to get in."

He said the Post Office consultation had completely ignored the views of customers and he accused the organisation of showing contempt towards them. "It was patently obvious that the move was purely a means of saving money," he said.

“Ironically, we find that the Post Office social responsibility statement on their website says that: ‘Ensuring we deliver an excellent service and are as accessible as possible to everyone in society is an important part of our business.’

“The relocation shows this to be empty words. This forum will be pressing the Post Office to significantly improve the facilities available.”

A Post Office spokeswoman said: “By re-locating Park Post Office we have safeguarded Post Office services to the local community as the previous branch was operated by a temporary Postmaster and we were looking for a permanent solution.

“We can confirm that Park Post Office is Equalities Act compliant. It has a turning circle that can accommodate a wheelchair or small scooter and the aisle from the wide entrance door has been extended to accommodate a wheelchair user.

“The former branch did not have an automatic door and there are no plans to install one at the new branch. The new branch is open significantly longer than before including Sunday morning and much earlier opening every day, giving people more choice when to visit. There is the opportunity to visit during the extended hours, when it is normallyquieter.”