Politicians unite to fight plan to close Post Office
COUNCILLORS and politicians are fighting the plan to close the post office in West Kilbride.
MP Patricia Gibson is taking up the situation at the House of Commons, while two of the area’s North Ayrshire councillors are also joining in the battle.
The closure of the post office in West Kilbride was announced on Monday, April 15, followed two days later by news that the Royal Bank of Scotland is to shut its branch in the centre of Largs.
The West Kilbride post office will shut on May 10, while the RBS branch in Largs will close on October 3.
Councillor Murdoch said: “I have written to the head of economic development and the chief executive of North Ayrshire Council to see if any support can be given to keep a Post Office facility within West Kilbride.
“There may be an opportunity for another local business to increase their footfall and support
the community.
“There may even be an opportunity for a Post Office facility to be created in a community premises.
“The library may be an option worth exploring.
“Some of my constituents inform me that they are managing their money using cash only as it’s easier to manage in such a difficult financial climate.
“Some businesses are asking people to pay by cash to lower their increasing bank charges and there have been calls for people to use cash more to maintain
its use.
“If people and businesses are using cash, they need a facility to physically pay that cash in to their accounts.”
Ms Gibson, the MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, repeated her long-standing call for minimum service standards to be imposed on banks and the Post Office.
She said: “Banks are retreating from our towns at an alarming rate, a concern I have repeatedly raised in the House of Commons.
“In addition, we have suffered more post office closures, with the post office in West Kilbride set to close in May.
“I have been fighting to save these services against an indifferent UK Government.
“I have also repeatedly raised the need for additional support for our beleaguered postmasters, which the UK Government has rejected.
“However, I continue to work with Post Office Ltd to work to secure a new franchisee to take over the delivery of post office services in these towns.
“However, what is needed, and for which I have long called, is minimum service standards for banking and post office services, including physical outlets, in our towns.
“Financial inclusion matters, and warm words are not enough. We need a commitment, enshrined in law, that our communities must not be financially excluded.”
Meanwhile, expressions of interest in taking on a Post Office service in West Kilbride can be made online at https://bit. ly/3UuqfBa