George Sinclair, from Post Office Ltd, today said, “We want to have a post office here.”

Dundee West MP Jim McGovern today delivered the petition to Mr Sinclair at the Highgate Shopping Centre in Lochee and said the response from the public had been overwhelming.

“We’ve gathered over 2200 signatures,” he said. “I’m not surprised, but I’m absolutely delighted at the strength of feeling and I’m very grateful to the Lochee retailers and, first and foremost, the people of Lochee who signed this.

“On the subject of petitions, people said to us, ‘It won’t make any difference’, but I genuinely believe it will make a difference.

“George Sinclair has said he’s delighted to receive the petition and he’s delighted to see the support for retaining a post office in the Lochee area.

“I think George is saying they are determined to keep a post office in Lochee and they agreed with me and the people who signed the petition that the preferred option is the High Street.”

The hunt is now on for a new postmaster and new premises in the area to house the service, with many Lochee residents saying a High Street site could help in the regeneration of the shopping precinct.

Mr Sinclair said the Post Office wanted a branch in the High Street just as much as the Lochee public.

“We’re committed to having a postal service in Lochee and are doing all we can to make that possible,” he said.

“The position (for a new postmaster) has been advertised and we’ve had one or two people come forward to express an interest.

“So we’re hopeful we can get something agreed, because we want to have a post office here.”

Mr McGovern added, “I have also had a productive meeting with Iain Moodie, the head of planning at Dundee City Council regarding the regeneration plans for Dundee as I feel that a post office would be crucial to this regeneration and be a real kick-start for Lochee High Street.”