Bosses urged to address post office closures as bus is axed

Published on Saturday 30 August 2008 11:55

ROYAL Mail bosses were today urged to rethink plans to close a city post office after it emerged the bus route to the next nearest branch is about to be scrapped.

Calder Crossway sub-post office was selected for closure at least partly on the grounds that customers would be able to catch a No 20 bus to Wester Hailes post office.

But Lothian Buses is now preparing to withdraw the No 20 from October 5.

SNP Lothians MSP Ian McKee said the loss of the bus route meant the plans to shut Calder Crossway must be reconsidered.

He said: "This transforms the whole situation. I felt it was a fairly weak case for closing this post office anyway, because there are so many people highly dependent on it. But now the case is blown out of the water."

The Evening News revealed yesterday that 62 per cent of the 643 transactions a week at Calder Crossway post office involved people collecting benefits or paying bills.

Dr McKee said the figures suggested a high proportion of customers did not have bank accounts and therefore had no other way of receiving their benefits or settling their bills. He said: "There are a lot of people on the Calders estate who are using that post office weekly for very important services.

"Wester Hailes post office is only just within the one mile distance allowed by the Post Office's own rules. But one of the excuses for closure was the existence of the No 20 bus route.

"Now they are going to be left without a bus service. It is vital this post office is spared closure."

According to the Royal Mail's closure proposals, Wester Hailes post office in the Wester Hailes Centre is 0.9 miles from Calder Crossway.

And the next nearest, Sighthill sub-post office in Calder Road, is 1.5 miles away – and also on the No 20 bus route.

Mary Diack, 59, of Calder Court, said local people had been surprised when their branch was named for closure.

She said: "On a Monday there's a big queue out the door. A lot of elderly folk use it. And if they are going to take the bus off, they are going to be stranded.

"From here to Wester Hailes, it's uphill all the way and quite a walk."

Mrs Diack said the loss of the post office would be a big blow to the community.

A total of 13 Edinburgh post offices are recommended for closure along with three in West Lothian, four in Midlothian and two in East Lothian.

A Post Office spokeswoman said the question of available bus routes had been one of the key factors in deciding which branches should close and which should stay open. She said: "If this bus service is to be withdrawn, we will take that into account as part of the consultation."

Top retailers refusing to bail out service

RETAIL giants Tesco and B&Q have ruled out providing funds to save the No 20 route.

The service is used for more than 3000 passenger trips every week, and is to be withdrawn as part of a series of cutbacks.

It provides access to various retail and leisure facilities in Westside Plaza, Hermiston Gait and Chesser, and was introduced in July 2003 after a long campaign.

Tesco, which is opening a new store at Hermiston Gait next month, asked Lothian Buses for a quote for the route, but has decided to pursue a free bus with another operator.

Bosses at nearby B&Q told the council they were waiting to see the effect on their store from the new Tesco.

City transport leader Phil Wheeler said: "An approach to the managers of the Hermiston Gait site will now be made, with a view to securing funding for a bus link."