"I am furious, absolutely furious" was how Mrs Isobel Ross summed up her feelings as she was prompted into action.

"This is another erosion of services in Forfar. As far as I am aware, at this point, it is the Post Office and not the Co-op which is giving it up."

Mrs Ross spoke of her "serious concerns" about the ability of the main post office in Forfar being able to cope with the extra number of customers, should the Dundee Road facility close.

Similar concerns were raised at meetings of Forfar Community Council prior to the closure of the East Port Post Office.

She continued: "Forfar has a population of 13,000. At some time all of these people will need to use the post office service and I just don't know if the west end post office is going to cope".

As housing developments continue to spring up all over Forfar, and with hundreds more included in the Local Plan, community councillors question how one post office could service customer needs.

"We want people to come to Forfar. The post office is essential to the community and the viability of the town."

In a comprehensive appendix to the "Network change programme" report published by the Post Office Limited giving details of proposed closures, Dundee Road customers are re-directed to the West High Street branch.

However, Mrs Ross has picked up a number of areas of concern in the reasons given.

The report reveals the Dundee Road Post Office has between 750 to 999 average number of customer sessions, with the West High Street Post Office recording between 2000 to 2499.

No supermarket

She questioned the comparison made in the "retail environment" listed, pointing out that whilst the West High Street post office is near to a beauty salon, hairdresser, haberdashery, library, baker, pub, shoe shop, three coffee shops, a newsagents and a fish shop - there is not a supermarket nearby.

"At the moment customers using the Post Office in Dundee Road can also do their shopping in the Co-op.

"There has to be a concern now that, if the Post Office is to close, what will the future be for the Co-op, which plays such a vital role in the local community as well as out-lying areas.

"The report also gives details of parking at the two branches. At the Dundee Road there is roadside parking outside the branch and car parks available within 65 yards of the branch.

"At West High Street there is restricted roadside parking and a car park with disabled spaces within 100 yards of the branch.

"This is obviously referring to the Myre car park which is often full and is too far for some disabled people to walk.

"Now that we have heard that the Forfar bus depot is to close, we also have to question if there will be any knock-on affect to services.

"Again the report states there is a half hourly bus service between the two branches, but what would happen if that was to change."

The report also described the terrain between the two as "mainly level", although many would argue there is a steep climb up from the town centre.

Customer frustration

Mrs Ross stated the proposed closure would only "add to the frustration" of the customer.

She added: "This is a dictat from Big Brother telling the people of Forfar that is what they are going to have to do. That's not right, people should have an option."

Mrs Ross's "fury" was matched by Forfar Councillor Glennis Middleton's anger as she described the closure plans as "disgraceful".

She said the impact would be hard felt within the town.

"It is essential that Forfar has more than one post office to cope with the entire population of the town.

"I know the Dundee Road facility is a busy one, serving, as it does, a large part of the community of Forfar.

"I am not sure the main post office has the capability to deal with the extra influx of business which will naturally result if Dundee Road were to close.

"Since the East Port post office closed I think there have been some difficulties, particularly for older people, at the main post office, not least for those who have a disability and for whom access is difficult.

"It seems to me that this is not a rationalisation of post offices, it is about the complete run down of services and it is a disgrace.

"It doesn't make sense. We are faced with the prospect of masses of older people standing out in all weather, queuing up to get their pensions and do other business.

"That happens now. How much worse is it going to be? In addition parking is problematic; it's all right if you are mobile and can park, assuming you can drive, in the Myre park.

"There is parking at Dundee Road Post Office which is what a community post office is all about.

"People go in, do business, meet each other and do shopping - it's a real asset to the community."