East Lothian Courier | News | Two post offices axed but relief as others spared

Published: Thursday, 21st August, 2008 09:50

Two post offices axed but relief as others spared

AFTER months of speculation, anxious residents learned the fate of their post offices on Tuesday – provoking a mixed response from leading political figures and community representatives.

Of the eight county post offices thought to be on the hit list in Post Office Ltd’s Network Change rationalisation programme, Elphinstone and West Barns were confirmed as the two branches due to face the axe later this year.

Communities there have vowed to fight the move.

Post offices in Drem, Garvald, Innerwick and Stenton will also be downgraded to a two-hour service per week, but Aberlady, Dirleton and Ormiston – which were also thought to be in the firing line – escaped unscathed.

In Gifford, a six-day service is to be retained in the village within the premises of AM Hogg Newsagents in High Street.

However, visitors to the post office – currently run and located by Lothian Borders and Angus Co-operative Society – will no longer be able to access certain services, including postal orders, travel insurance, moneygrams, and the posting of larger parcels.

A six-week public consultation period commenced this week, and East Lothian Council has urged residents unhappy with the announcement to make their feelings known.

County MP Anne Moffat, a member of the cross-party Commons Select Committee on Business and Enterprise which has been overseeing the controversial closure programme, welcomed the news that Aberlady’s postal services were to be retained.

She received a petition from local schoolchildren last year asking that their branch be saved.

The Labour MP had come under fire over possible post office closures at a heated public meeting in Gifford last Monday evening.

However, her spirits appeared to have been lifted when she visited Aberlady Primary School on Tuesday and was met with “cheers and clapping” after announcing to jubilant pupils that their post office

“Naturally it is disappointing that Elphinstone and West Barns are earmarked for closure,” she added.

“I hope we can now focus on a meaningful six week consultation period and ensure that everyone is fully informed regarding how services will continue to be delivered in East Lothian.”

Ms Moffat’s joy was not shared by her political opponents, one of whom described her actions as “reprehensible”.

SNP parliamentary candidate Andrew Sharp declared: “This is a case where profit has proved to be king, and the needs of the local population have been cynically and arrogantly ignored.”

Amy Rodger, Liberal Democrat candidate, said: “Ms Moffat has blindly supported (Prime Minister) Gordon Brown’s Government, not thinking about the consequences of the continued erosion of our public services.

“Reducing the hours of these post offices, tantamount to closure, will cause great difficulty to those who rely on the services available at branches, particularly the elderly and disabled.”

Tory candidate Michael Veitch also added his voice to the political uproar, calling on the government to suspend the controversial closure programme.

“This wholesale downgrading of the rural Post Office network in East Lothian will come as a body blow to the communities affected,” he said.

“I am extremely unhappy with the way this entire process has been conducted.”

In response to the proposed closure of West Barns and Elphinstone’s postal branches, community councillors in both areas have confirmed that they will fight to retain the services.

Chairman of Tranent and Elphinstone Community Council, Raymond Strang said: “The community council will be carrying out a consultation with the villagers to gauge their reaction to the loss of their postal service before deciding on our next step.

“It’s a concern to ourselves that there’s a fairly limited service available in Elphinstone and our primary worry is that this may well have an adverse effect on the shop facilities (housed in the same building as the post office) that are currently in place.”

West Barns Community Council chairman James Thorburn told the Courier that villagers were strongly opposed to any closure of their post office.

“There has been quite a response, I don’t think anybody wants it to close as it means quite a lot to the village,” he said.

“There’s a lot of people who rely on the post office and find it difficult to get to Dunbar (the nearest postal facilities to the village).

“We are definitely opposing this.”

He added that a public meeting to discuss the potential closure would take place in the village next Thursday.

In the four county communities where postal services have been substantially reduced, the general reaction from community members appeared to be one of disappointed resignation.

Drem resident and former community councillor John Fortune told the Courier: “I think it’s very regrettable that we are going to lose this service and I’m not happy about it but I think we have to face the reality of the situation.”

Chairman of Garvald and Morham Community Council, James Thomson, similarly commented: “Obviously we are disappointed at the news as the post office is a part of the village even though it’s not a particularly commercial aspect.”

“However, as long as we can still access a post office in Gifford, we feel that it will not really be a great inconvenience for a lot of people as Gifford is quite accessible for Garvald residents.”

In Gifford, a six-day ‘outreach partner service’ was largely welcomed by the community council, who had previously feared complete closure of the local amenity.

Group chairman John O’Connor told the Courier: “I think that the general reaction is one of relief, that the proposals are not nearly as bad as we had feared.

“I and Gifford Community Council again takes the opportunity to urge our people to use the services of the businesses in the village to ensure their continuation. In other words – use it or lose it!”

Members are preparing to hold talks with Post Office representatives at their monthly meeting on September 8, which members of the public are welcome to attend.

East Lothian councillors were said to be “disappointed” that two county post offices were facing closure.

Council leader, Councillor David Berry said: “We are going to consult with community councils and local people about these proposals, with a view to putting forward positive alternative plans to the Post Office for the retention of viable services in the affected areas.”

Sally Buchanan, Post Office Ltd’s network development manager for Scotland, said: “Taking the decision to close any Post Office branch is always very difficult and we know will cause concern to many of our customers.

“We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on or has any concern with Post Office services is both fully aware of the proposed changes, and able to give views on them.”

All representations to Post Office Ltd should be received by September 29 and residents wishing to express a view can write to Sally Buchanan, network development manager, C/O National Consultation Team, Freepost Consultation Team. Alternatively residents can email consultation@postoffice.co.uk or phone 08457 223344.

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