Fight to save Post Offices from the axe
An MSP and councillors have stepped up a campaign to stop two Post Office branches in Ayr disappearing from their communities.
The Post Offices facing the axe are located within SPAR outlets at Main Road, Whitletts,and Mount Oliphant Crescent, Forehill.
SPAR brand owners CJ Lang plan to axe 31 across Scotland because they say the branches weren’t ‘financially viable.’
The Ayr branches are set to close in August.
Ayr North Labour councillor Ian Cavana - whose ward covers the threatened branch at Whitletts - is fuming over the decision to close it.
He said: “I have contacted CJ Lang in regards to the proposed closure of the Post Office at Whitletts.
“I received a reply email from them to say they were in talks (not with local councillors) for the past 15 months and have confirmed this Post Office will close in August.
“I think this is nothing short of a disgrace, considering the area this Post Office serves which includes disabled and senior citizens and others who use the Post Office frequently.
“I’m there to pay my council tax, as I do every month, along with local residents. At this moment in time, CJ Lang did not offer any alternative in the Whitletts area.
“The nearest Post Office is in Lochside, which has limited opening hours, or WH Smith in Ayr town centre, which is unacceptable to that part of Ayr North.”
Ayr North SNP councillor Laura Brennan-Whitefield, said: “I would be very disappointed if the Post Office was to close on Whitletts Road as it provides a service to the community of Ayr North and not everyone has got access or wishes to use online services.”
And Ayr North Conservative councillor Ian Davis is concerned over the closure.
He declared: “I’m currently hoping to discuss the proposed closure of the Post Office in Whitletts with CJ Lang, to raise the comments and concerns of the local community.”
South Scotland Labour MSP Colin Smyth has issued an SOS and appealed for interested parties to come forward in an attempt to keep a Post Office presence local.
He said: “I have been
speaking to a number of groups who are potentially interested in running one of the closurehit branches but we’re at a very early stage and I’m still calling on the Post Offices to try and find alternatives.
“It’s clear that SPAR is not going to reverse its decision to close these branches, so we need alternatives. I’m now appealing to any community groups or organisations who have an interest to come forward.”
A spokesman for CJ Lang insisted it wasn’t viable for
them to continue the Post Office service within their shops.
A Post Office spokesperson said they were “disappointed” with the announcement.
A statement from Forehill, Holmston and Masonhill Community Council said: “A number of local residents have approached us to raise their concerns over the closure.
“FHMCC backs our local residents completely and are strongly against the proposed closure.
“Expecting elderly and
vulnerable people to trek in to town on public transport and enter a busy newsagents to conduct their business is asking too much, particularly as this is the very section of the community most at risk of Covid and who have been carefully shielding- and will have to continue to do so.
“We will correspond with both CJ Lang and the Post Office to continue to represent our local population and make every effort to have this valued and valuable service remain in our community.”