Outcry as village post office closes

Oct 9 2009 by Stuart Wilson

RAGING OAPs have been left high and dry after their village post office closed.

People going to collect their pension in Symington got a shock when they found the shutters down.

The shop which houses the post office in Brewlands Drive has closed without warning – leaving customers in no-man’s-land.

And they now face a four-mile trek to the nearest office in Dundonald.

Politicians are urging the Post Office to find a solution, with bosses claiming the closure came as news to them.

It’s believed the shop owner, who housed the post office, went bankrupt and closed the business.

Brian Donohoe, the MP for the area, is leading the calls for swift action.

He said: “I contacted Royal Mail and it was explained to me that the problem was not the post office, but the retailer who owns the premises within which the PO is situated.

“Apparently the retailer has gone bankrupt and refused to allow the sub postmaster onto the premises.

“Royal Mail has indicated that there will not be an overnight solution to this problem, as new premises are required for the continued operation of the village post office.

“I have been assured that they are doing everything they can to try and make this happen as quickly as possible and have no plans to permanently close.

“Unfortunately this doesn’t seem like a situation which will be resolved as quickly as I am sure the local population would like.”

Those fears are shared by Ayr MSP John Scott, who reckons customers may have to play a waiting game.

He said: “This is a huge concern to me. Having been in touch with the Post Office, I know they are trying everything to find a new location to keep the current office going.

“It’s not their intention to close, but given the difficulties it may take a week or two to find a suitable solution.

“I’m well aware of the problems this is causing my constituents and have impressed this on the Post Office.”

A Post Office spokesman confirmed every effort is being made to rescue the situation for customers.

He said: “Due to the premises no longer being available, Post Office Ltd had to temporarily close the Symington post office branch on October 3.

“Post Office Ltd would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience the closure will cause and wish to assure them that every effort is being made to find a solution that will provide a post office presence in the community of Symington.”

Brian Turnbull, field change advisor for Post Office Ltd, added: “Regrettably, due to the premises no longer being available, and despite our best efforts to maintain a post office counter service at this location, we had no other option but to temporarily close this branch.

“The provision of a post office service to our customers in the local community is of paramount importance and we continue to work hard to restore a post office presence in the area as soon as possible.”