Part-time post offices rubber stamped as more branches go

Published on Friday 15 August 2008 10:32

MAKESHIFT post offices will be set up in village halls and even an equestrian centre to replace branches that have been axed in the Lothians.

It emerged today that the Royal Mail will announce the closure of seven branches in East Lothian on Tuesday, in addition to 13 in Edinburgh and two in Midlothian. The number of closures in West Lothian is not yet known.

The Evening News has learned five of the axed offices in East Lothian will be replaced by services in other local venues, which will be open only a few hours a week. The other two will be completely closed.

The news has angered community leaders and residents, who say many people will have to travel long distances to reach their nearest office.

Campaigns have already been launched to save post offices in Edinburgh, with residents in Cramond, Dalmeny and Leith Walk saying they will be hard hit by the loss of local services.

Royal Mail is set to hold a six-week consultation on the closures, which are part of a national programme. If they go ahead, the branches are expected to close by the end of the year.

In East Lothian, West Barns and Elphinstone post offices are expected to be closed completely. Gifford will move to a part-time counter in a local shop.

Stenton, Innerwick and Garvald will all be replaced by services for just two hours a week, based in the village halls. Drem Post Office will be run for two hours in nearby Appin Equestrian Centre.

Amy Rodger, the Lib Dem candidate for East Lothian, said: "I'm very concerned about the massive reduction in hours. It's asking a bit much for people in these communities to only have a service for two hours a week.

"This shouldn't be a purely economic decision. A post office in a rural area is not necessarily going to have the same number of customers as a larger town, but it's still an essential part of the community." She said that hundreds of people in East Lothian had already signed her petition calling for the post offices to be saved.

David Wyllie, a retired lecturer from Stenton, said he was "outraged" to hear that they would be losing their branch. He said many residents would be writing to protest.

He said: "It's a unique post office, based in a village shed at the bottom of the garden. It creates some social link for the whole of the village. The pub has already closed and we're in danger of just becoming a row of commuter houses.

"The nearest one is three miles away in East Linton and the bus service isn't very regular."

A Post Office Ltd spokeswoman said the firm could not comment on closures before the official announcement on Tuesday.

'We're not going to take this lying down'

CAMPAIGNS to save post offices have swung into action since the Evening News revealed the names of those facing the axe.

Community leaders in Cramond say it is vital to save their under-threat branch, which is based at the only shop in the village.

Kathleen Dodds, a committee member of the Cramond Association, said: "We're not going to take this lying down. This is going to affect a large number of people, especially the elderly and young families.

"Not everyone has a car and people rely on being able to walk down to the local post office."

The Leith Walk Traders' Association was concerned about the closure of Elm Row Post Office. Alan Rudland, the vice-chairman, said: "There's a very strong sense of community here and the post office is definitely part of it. It's unfortunate to see another business disappear from Leith Walk."

Almond councillor Kate McKenzie said people in Dalmeny were worried about the loss of their only shop.

She said: "I find this extremely sad. It's a very small village, and apart from Dalmeny Primary, there's almost nothing there. It's not very easy for older people to get the bus into Queensferry."