Post office service to return to village
A village stuck without a post office for a month is to get service again.
Lochwinnoch was left in the lurch when the Spar axed the post office from its building.
Now a new facility is to be set up within the McKillop Hall and will be operated by Johnstone Post Office.
It will run for two and a half days a week and has come as a relief to villagers who were faced with trekking to Beith or Johnstone.
Alan Bissett, chairman of Lochwinnoch Community Council, pictured below, said: “While this is obviously not as ideal as having a dedicated full-time Post Office, nonetheless we are grateful that we will at least have a slimmeddown service.
“The only building in the village
which is able to accommodate this, however, is the McKillop Hall, which is currently being refurbished and will not be open again til, we believe, February or March.
“Again, this is not ideal - as that will be many months Lochwinnoch will have gone without a Post Office.
“But it is comforting to know that it is on its way. We are thankful to Councillor Bill Binks for his help in this matter.”
The shutters came down on the Spar post office counter on October 21.
It had been given a stay of execution after outrage.
But new talks between Spar owner CJ Lang and the Post Office collapsed.
CJ Lang shut counters at 31 locations and temporary solutions have already been found for 12 sites. That includes village and church halls and libraries.
A Post Office spokeswoman said: “Lochwinnoch, unfortunately, closed on October 21 due to the decision made by CJ Lang to no longer operate the branch.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this temporary closure.
“We are looking to restore a temporary service early in the new year.
“In the interim, alternative branches include Kilbirnie and Beith.”