Alarm at Post Office blow to Ayrshire Villages

Jul 25 2008

THERE is alarm in rural Carrick at the number of village Post Offices targeted for closure.

Straiton, Kirkmichael, Minishant, Dunure, Dailly and Turnberry are all set to close.

So too is the long-established Southend Post Office in Girvan.

Dailly is most fortunate as the Post Office will transfer across the road to Dailly Stores.

But there is real anguish in other villages, at the bleak prospect.

Former councillor Jean Wilson said: “We'll soon have nothing left in Kirkmichael - no pubs, no toilets, and now no Post Office. And that's supposed to be progress.” Mrs Wilson added: “We have a lot of retired people in the village, and they’re not all able to drive.

“The ones who can won’t even be able to pop into Minishant PO on their way to the shops in Ayr.

“I’m afraid this decision is yet another threat to rural life.”

Girvan Community Council chairman Alec Clark said the decision to close the town’s Southend Post Office was ‘diabolical’.

He said: “It’s been a fixture for all of my lifetime, and a lot longer.

“It seems the modern way is to get rid of things that people value. And it will be a sad day for people in the south part of Girvan when this post office goes.”

Mr Clark added: “The community council will certainly make representations about this.

“And I hope the public make their views known too.

“However, I can’t help thinking the consultation is a bit of a sham. The decision has been made.”

Many people can’t get their heads round the loss of a facility, always regarded as vital, and a lifeline in times of crisis.

A Turnberry man said: “Our post office is an essential part of our community, and has been for generations.

“It beggars belief that it will be going – to be replaced by a weekly visit from a van.

“You would think it should be an essential part of government to keep a network of post offices, serving the entire country.”

A postmistress whose office is safe told the Post: “The men in grey suits came round in April, and we were all sworn to secrecy.

“I couldn’t even tell my staff that their jobs might be under threat.

“And I didn’t even get official word that my post office was safe. I had to read it in the paper.”