Ayr public voice fears over Post Office closures

Aug 8 2008

Public voice fears over PO closures

AYR’S main Post Office won’t cope with the volume of new customers if branches at Forehill and Newtonhead close.

That’s the worry dominating public meetings in Ayr over the controversial proposal.

According to MP Sandra Osborne, not enough consideration has been given to the impact on the Crown Post Office at WH Smith at Ayr High Street.

Post Office chiefs revealed last month that 10 South Ayrshire branches have been earmarked for closure along with other Ayrshire offices, including Rankinston.

And the MP for Ayr , Carrick and Cumnock responded by conducting a series of public meetings across her constituency in a bid to gauge public reaction.

She explained: “At several of the public meetings I have held on the Post Office’s proposed closures, constituents have complained about the poor service at W H Smith’s with long queues.

“Can you imagine how much worse that would be if a large proportion of the customers who currently use Forehill or Newtonhead Post Offices go into the town for post office services?”

Mrs Osborne added: “When the move to W H Smith’s was first announced last summer, I met with Post Office Ltd and was given assurances that the High Street Post Office would be able to cope with demand.

“I have been monitoring the situation regularly since.

“I am very disappointed that they do not seem to have given proper consideration to the impact their proposed closures would have on the W H Smith office, especially since customers have been expressing dissatisfaction at the level of service provided there.”

Mrs Osborne urged anyone with an opinion on the plan to take part in the consultation exercise by writing to: Post Office Ltd; Freepost National Consultation Team.

Other branches earmarked for closures include Loans, Minishant, Kirkoswald, Straiton, Dunure, Turnberry and Moorfield in Prestwick.