Axe to finally fall on village’s post office
Fears elderly folk will suffer most from branch closure
Frustrated villagers have blasted plans to close their local post office.
The owners of Spar, CJ Lang, announced the post office within its Lochwinnoch store would close on October 21.
The news comes after previous plans in March were put on hold.
Lochwinnoch Community Council said it is looking at what to do next.
A spokesman explained: “The community council are currently looking at our options, as this is obviously quite a loss for the village.”
Local councillor Andy Doig made enquiries at the start of the year when CJ Lang first announced it would close the village post office.
He said: “A suggestion was made that Castle Semple visitor centre could be a base for a community post office.
“Council officers felt that was a reasonable fit. I’m going to ask the council to revisit that option.
“This is bigger than just Lochwinnoch. There used to be banks and post offices in Kilbarchan and Howwood, now most of those services have gone.
“A lot of people are being excluded here – elderly people, those on low incomes or without a car. Online isn’t always an option.”
Villagers will be faced with travelling into Ayrshire to Beith or Kilbirnie to reach a post office, neither of which are linked directly by public transport.
A post office spokesman said: “We are disappointed that CJ Lang announced that the post office counters they operate on our behalf will close at a number of their stores.
“The decision to close these counters has been taken solely by CJ Lang.
“Post offices play an important role in the heart of local communities across Scotland and we have worked closely with CJ Lang for a number of months to help keep open essential post office services for their customers.
“This included working together to develop tailored solutions to address their needs and support them in the challenging retail climate.
“At certain locations, there are nearby alternative post office branches, but we recognise that for some particularly older and disabled people they may not be easily accessible. We will look for replacement solutions both on a temporary or permanent basis for those branches that close.”
Lochwinnoch post office is part of 31 across Scotland inside Spar stores which will close.
Colin McLean, CEO of CJ Lang, said: “This decision has been carefully considered and comes after 18 months of negotiations with Post Office Limited.
“It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in the position of having to change the services we offer.
“Unfortunately, it is not viable for us to continue to offer the service at this site.
“Staffing numbers will be unaffected within the store.
“This is representative of the industry-wide pressures on retail outlets as we evolve to keep up with consumer habits.”
The community council are currently looking at our options, as this is obviously quite a loss