Published: Friday, 29th August, 2008 8:35am

Fisherrow’s red letter day

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FISHERROW Post Office is to reopen on September 15, in what is being hailed as a triumph for the community in the wake of major closures.

Eight months of relentless campaigning paid off with news last week that full services will be restored – for at least one year.

The post office will be based at Premier Low Cost Supermarket, North High Street – directly opposite the building where it was previously housed.

And extended opening hours will be available, with a seven-day-week service from 8am to 10pm thoughout the trial period.

In at letter to customers, Post Office Ltd said: “During this time (we) will be carefully monitoring the situation to ascertain if this service meets the needs of the local community and would provide a commercially viable alternative to the way our services are currently offered.”

Services on offer at the new ‘Fisherrow Post Office Service Point’ include:

automated banking services, bill and budget payment schemes, Post Office Card Account, postal orders and postage, inland letters/ packets (up to 6kgs and including recorded and special delivery), international letters/packets (up to 5 kgs).

The previous North High Street branch closed “indefinitely” following the resignation of sub postmaster Andrew Gilhooly in January, sparking an outcry from community groups.

Hundreds of pensioners in the west of the town, who used the local post office to collect their benefits and pay bills, were told to travel to Poundstretcher in High Street.

Promenade resident, Jane Fairnie, 62, whose husband John was a regular at the previous post office, said she believed the shop layout was a key factor in the decision to move to the new premises.

“There is already wheelchair access there and it’s flat from the back wall to the front door. It’s also all on one level. That’s what I think attracted them (Post Office Ltd) to this location,” said Mrs Fairnie.

But she added: “The new operators will have to go some way to beat the previous owner for personal service and courtesy.”

Speaking on behalf of Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council, Irene Tait, said she was “absolutely delighted” at the news.

“The extended opening hours will help people who are working,” she said. “And I have to say I am really surprised that we are getting one here, especially in the current climate.”

Edinburgh East and Musselburgh MP, Kenny MacAskill, who discussed the Fisherrow branch closure with Post Office chiefs some months ago, welcomed its reopening.

“This is a great boost for the community because losing that branch was a great inconvenience to the elderly and others,” said Mr MacAskill.

“It’s probably the only bit of good news in the country regarding post offices, with all the closures that are going on.

“I did speak to Post Office Ltd but really this has been a campaign run by the community. The community council has been pivotal in this as well,” he added.

“It just goes to show that community campaigns to save post offices can be effective and ultimately successful.”

Post Office officials will monitor the progress of the new service and report on their findings in the coming months.