Shuttle bus to run to East Linton while Dunbar Post Office is shut

The Post Office, on High Street, shuts its doors at the close of business on Monday to allow for a substantial modernisation.

It will then re-open on March 9 with longer opening hours and offering more services.

Concerns were raised earlier this month that Dunbar would be left without a Post Office for the near-two-week period, with suggestions made for a temporary service to be provided in the Bleachingfield Centre.

However, this was dismissed by Post Office officials, who have instead put on a daily bus.

The bus will depart from outside Dunbar’s Post Office at 11.30am and arrive at East Linton Post Office 20 minutes later.

Then, at 12.20pm, it will leave East Linton and return to Dunbar.

The service will run from Tuesday to March 6 – but not at weekends.

Stephen Bunyan, chairman of Dunbar Community Council, described the situation as “a most unhappy story”.

He reiterated that the Bleachingfield was offered but Post Office officials had “dug their heels in”, leaving people to get the bus.

Members agreed refurbishment of the Post Office was welcome but questioned if more could have been done to help people in the town while the branch was shut.

Isobel Knox, fellow community councillor, felt it was important that people in the town were aware of the efforts people, ranging from community councillors to politicians, had made in a bid to ensure there was a Post Office in the town.

Mr Bunyan agreed and said: “There has been a vociferous and vigorous lobby, ranging from the MP down to community councillors.” Posters were put up in the Post Office on January 8 to advertise the refurbishment.

The new Post Office will offer extended opening hours from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, an extra five hours on the Saturday afternoon.

Similarly, there will be an increase in services available, including cash withdrawals from a Post Office Card Account, sending funds abroad using Moneygram, paying bills, buying holiday money, getting insurance, mortgages, savings and top up mobile phones.

Earlier this month, Kenny Lamont, area manager, stressed they were aware of how important the Post Office was to the town.

He said: “We know how important Post Office services are to residents in Dunbar and we are confident that this vibrant modern Post Office at the heart of the community will be popular. The modernisation is part of a major Government investment programme that is enabling us to continue investing in the Post Office network and to map out a bold growth strategy through to the end of the decade.”