Delight as Post Office to reopen Mallaig branch

Mallaig Post Office officially closed in the first week of the new year, but there was joy this week with the news that residents will only be deprived of its services for little more than a month in total, with the branch set to reopen at the beginning of February.

There had been fears that the closure would be permanent. However, in an online letter to customers on its website, the Post Office’s change manager, David Duff, has now said the Post Office was ‘delighted’ to let people know it will be restoring services to Mallaig on Thursday February 6.

The letter continues: ‘As you know, the branch closed temporarily on January 6, 2020, due to the resignation of the postmaster and the withdrawal of the premises for Post Office use.

‘We have now secured a temporary operator to run the new service from the same location, Mallaig Post Office, and will offer a wide range of Post Office products and services.

‘I know that the local community will join me in welcoming this good news and [we] hope that our customers will continue to use the branch.’

Lochaber MSP Kate Forbes said: ‘I’m relieved that a temporary provider has been found for Mallaig Post Office.

‘Although temporary, this is good news for the village which would be otherwise left with nothing.

‘It’s awful that people have been left without a service for several weeks and I hope this temporary solution will become permanent.’

And Highland councillor Allan Henderson (pictured), Caol and Mallaig, said: ‘I am delighted to be informed that Mallaig will once again have a post office, albeit under a temporary operator.

‘A village the size of Mallaig serving so many remote and rural areas should never be in this position. Post Office need to use this breathing space to get a permanent solution for Mallaig.

‘They also need to deliver a good consistent service suitable to the needs of today’s customers.

‘This also includes commercial businesses as banks withdraw their branches.’

‘A village the size of Mallaig should never be in this position...’