Letham will get new PO
Jeanfield Road branch to open
Residents in Letham will soon be able to use the post office again, as a new branch is set to open next month.
Letham Post Office on Rannoch Road shut its doors unexpectedly at the end of March, leaving residents in the area without access to a post office.
Since then, residents have been forced to travel into the city centre branch or to Oakbank Post Office, over a mile away up a steep hill.
The closure also saw the only ATM in Perth that accepts Post Office bank cards decommissioned as well.
However, Post Office Ltd has announced it will reopen Letham Post Office in the Best One corner shop on Jeanfield Road, and it has promised the new branch will have longer opening hours as well.
Robert Sharp, Post Office’s area network change manager, said: “We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents.
“We are confident that this vibrant new-style post office will meet customer needs.”
The new post office, which is 0.8 miles away from the previous post office on Rannoch Road, will be known as Jeanfield Road Post Office.
Post Office has promised it will
The new post office will be housed in the corner shop on Jeanfield Road
have services available seven days a week, including banking services for personal customers and businesses.
It will be open from 7.30am until 8pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 8am until 7pm on a Sunday.
The move has been welcomed with some caution by Councillor John Rebbeck, who represents Letham at Perth and Kinross Council.
He said: “I am delighted that something is happening, but I have reservations and I am disappointed that Letham is still without a post office facility. I do not consider Jeanfield Road to be in Letham.
“The ATM on Rannoch Road is really missed on that parade, and I am also not sure whether the new post office will have an ATM or not.”
One local politician is encouraging residents to take part in an online survey ahead of the new post office branch being opened. Roseanna Cunningham, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, said: “Obviously, it is disappointing that it was not thought possible to find someone who could take over the Letham Post Office at the Rannoch Road shops but I am pleased that there will now be post office services available in the local area once more, albeit almost a mile away from the original location.
“One particular point of concern for me is whether or not the ATM which was sited outside the old post office will be retained, either in situ or at the new location.
“This is a very important facility for Post Office card account customers who cannot use ATMs from other providers.
“Anyone who shares this or any other concern can take part in the online survey which is being carried out by the Post Office as part of their consultation on this change of location.
“The survey can be found at the Post Office consultation hub at postofficeviews.co.uk”
A spokesperson for the Post Office added: “During the public consultation, Post Office Ltd welcomes feedback on any issues customers would like considered before a final decision is taken on the proposal.
“The consultation will close on August 2 2018. Customers can share their views during the consultation online at postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 174321.”
The new branch at 59 Jeanfield Road will open on Thursday, July 19.