‘No update’ on Inveraray and Lochgilphead post offices

Inveraray has been left with no permanent post office since April, when the McCaughey family moved on from the Londis shop which hosted the post office.

The community of Inveraray was informed of this in advance, but the loss of Lochgilphead post office in June was more sudden, with the untimely passing of the town’s much-respected postmaster Findlay Campbell.

At the moment, both Inveraray and Lochgilphead are served by a mobile post office van. In response to questions from the Argyllshire Advertiser about the progess being made in finding replacement operators for the Mid Argyll towns, a spokesperson for the Post Office initially said that there was ‘no update at this stage’, but ‘the mobile Post Office continues to serve Inveraray’.

After being pressed, the spokesperson later added: ‘Post Office Ltd is still examining all possibilities to enhance Post Office service provision at Lochgilphead. The vacancies for Lochgilphead and Inveraray are both advertised on www.runapostoffice. co.uk.’

In its online advertising, the Post Office says of Inveraray and Lochgilphead: ‘Post Office Ltd is looking for a successful retailer to incorporate a Post Office Local into their existing or proposed business.’

The closing date for applications for the Inveraray post office is January 30, 2021, while for Lochgilphead it is February 26.