Post Office re-opens in new home
The new Strathaven Post Office has officially opened in its new location.
The new facility, within the Gulf Petrol Station on Hamilton Road, offers 50 hours of Post Office service a week, nearly double the previous opening hours for the convenience of customers.
A Post Office counter is alongside the retail counter of the convenience store of the petrol station.
The layout is in line with Post Office specifications, to ensure sufficient space for the Post Office service to operate alongside the retail offer.
Steven Simpson, Post Office Network provision lead, said: “We are pleased to have restored service as we know how important a Post Office is to a community.
“The extended opening hours give more choice as when to visit.”
However, chairman of the town’s business association, Les Hoggan, who fought to keep the service in the heart of the community, described the move as “extremely disappointing”.
He said: “This is extremely disappointing as we felt that Post Office Ltd had an obligation to try to find a solution, however despite a high level of objections to the plan, it is now going ahead.
“We wish the owner of Gulf Petrol Station every success, however as a community we have not given up the fight to get the Post Office back in the town centre where it belongs.”
At the end of last year, Post Office consulted on relocating the branch from Green Street and subsequently the postmaster, who had been operating the branch on a temporary basis, resigned.
Locals feared the move would negatively impact on customers without transport and the viability and prosperity of Strathaven town centre itself with a reduction in footfall.
Climate Action Strathaven stated that they wanted to see the Post Office remain at the centre of the community.
Strathaven Business Association, Strathaven and Glassford Community Council, Lisa Cameron MP, Mairi McAllan MSP and Climate Action Strathaven worked with the landlord in Green Street to try to find a solution that would enable a Post Office to remain in the town centre location where it belongs.
Despite welcoming the restoration, Provost Margaret Cooper, councillor for the area, said: “The relocation of the Post Office has come as a major blow to the rural community.
“However in saying that, it is positive that the Post Offices services are prepared to remain open.
“The garage facility on the Hamilton Road provided an excellent service to its customers with fuel and grocery items.
“It is a busy shop that is full of products and it is difficult to see how a Post Office service can be included in the facility.
“A major issue is parking the forecourt is tight at the best of times and parked cars on a very busy main road is undesirable.
“I worry for elderly people who are unable to walk there and who depend on the services the Post Office provide beyond posting letters.”
The opening hours of Strathaven Post Office at the Gulf Petrol Station are now Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 3pm.