The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Fears for future of post office as lease ends
Closure a possibility as landlord thought to be looking for new occupant
The post office serving Perth’s Letham community has been hailed as “vital” amid fears it could close.
The lease on the building it occupies in the city’s Rannoch Road is due to come to an end next month and it is understood the landlord is seeking a new occupant.
Local politicians are preparing for the worst and looking at alternative locations for the service – one of which could be the local Co-op store.
The news comes as the Post Office confirmed Blairgowrie post office is to move from the town’s Wellmeadow in the new year.
That has come about because the operator of the branch, the Co-operative Group Ltd, has given notice it no longer wishes to provide the service from its store.
Post Office has said it is “committed” to maintaining a service in Blairgowrie, with proposals for new services to be the subject of a public consultation.
SNP Perth City North councillor John Rebbeck said he has real concerns over the impact the loss of the Letham branch would have on his community.
“My belief is that the community of Letham will suffer with the loss of this lifeline service,” he said.
“Older people in particular rely upon their Post Office accounts and at the same time they are used by many local people whose financial circumstances are such that they could not get a bank account.
“You see people queuing at the bank machine at midnight, such is their need to access the money that has become available.
“You see how crucial it is.
“I also fear the loss of the post office will have an economic impact upon the other shops in Rannoch Road.
“We believe around £10 million goes out into the community through this Post Office counter every year.
“Not every penny of that will be spent in the neighbouring shops but the benefit will be significant – and the loss no less so.”
Mr Rebbeck said he and SNP group leader Dave Doogan would be fighting to ensure the community can continue to rely upon a counter.
He also hopes Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart will be talking to Post Office and Co-op bosses in the coming days.
The region has been beset by Post Office woes in recent months as, in addition to difficulties in Blairgowrie, one of Perth’s busiest counters has only just reopened after a three-month closure.
The Craigie branch abruptly shut its doors to customers in September, forcing them to use other outlets in the city centre, Muirton or Oakbank.
Post Office bosses declined to explain why the outlet had been temporarily out of business, saying only that it was due to “operational reasons”.
More than a quarter of Scotland’s post offices have disappeared since 2002.
Older people in particular rely upon their Post Office accounts. COUNCILLOR JOHN REBBECK