A bitter war of words today broke out between mail company Consignia and industry watchdog Postwatch ahead of a meeting in Southend to discuss poor performance in the town.

Despite improvements in the mail service in the SS postcode area, Southend has been ranked 11th worst in the country and there could be heated exchanges at tomorrow's public meeting, which has been called by Postwatch.

One potential timebomb was defused when Consignia chief executive John Roberts rejected a ten per cent pay increase yesterday, but local union leaders are likely to bring up the subject of their own pay increases and proposed job cuts.

Mr Roberts declined an interview with the Echo, but a spokesman said: "Postmen and women are sick and tired of Postwatch issuing misleading and alarmist figures about mail performance.

"Postwatch has calculated the figure of 300 million letters arriving late nationally between April to December against a false target (100 per cent). We aim to deliver the best possible performance and want to exceed targets, not just meet them, but their figure is simply not true."

She added: "First Class post is not, of course, a guaranteed service and cannot be for 27p and the target can never be 100 per cent."

In Southend 87.5 per cent of first class post arrives the next day, despite a Government target of 92.1 per cent.

Tomorrow's meeting is at 7.30pm at the Civic Centre in Victoria Avenue, Southend.

Published Tuesday, March 5, 2002