MSP Keith Brown has chastised recent Post Office proposals to close its Alloa Branch and move its services to a local shop.

As the Advertiser has previously reported, plans to relocate the town centre office to Mill Road have been discussed for the last few weeks.

The Post Office claim the Maple Court branch is operating at a loss and so moving to within a nearby Nisa store, which is yet to open, is the most appropriate way to maintain local services.

However, Mr Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, accused the Post Office of putting profits before the interests of the town and called on local residents to voice their concerns.

A consultation period on the plans is being held at Alloa Town Hall on 18 December between 4-8pm and the public are welcome to attend from 6.30pm.

Mr Brown said: “I have told representatives of the Post Office, face-to-face, that I do not accept that the plans on the table are appropriate for Clackmannanshire’s main Post Office.

“Alloa Crown Post Office and the expertise it offers, is at the heart of our town centre.

“From where I am standing it looks as though profit is being put ahead of service and it is the customers who may lose out.” Mr Brown raised concerns relating to access and queuing arrangements for customers, as well as the future of current Post Office employees.

He also wants assurances from the Post Office and Nisa that the proposed level of service would be maintained.

He said: “Unlike the current post office, there would be no obligation to continue postal services in Alloa if the business decides to give up the post office side of the business.

“If this move happens, we’ll have an uncertain future for our town centre post office which so many local residents and businesses rely on.

“I am completely against this move and if it does go ahead, I will be clear that I want to see the current level of service offered at Alloa Post Office retained as a minimum – if not enhanced from where things stand – and also guarantees from Post Office Ltd that these services in Alloa will be assured in the longer term.

“The Post Office is hosting a consultation next Thursday I would encourage local people to go along and voice their views – I will certainly be going along.” Under the proposed move, the new Post Office would have five serving positions and it is said that it will offer the same range of products and services as the current establishment.

The new branch would be open for over 27 hours longer than the current service and will be open on a Sunday.

The Post Office insist no compulsory redundancies would take place and current employees could transfer to the new employer or redeploy within Post Office Ltd – according to the company.

Last week, a Post Office spokesperson said: “Alloa Post Office operates at a considerable loss. This is public money and this is clearly not a sustainable position. This loss-making position must be rectified to safeguard services in the area.”