New Post Office service opens in Tillicoultry

Hamish Hutchinson • Published 26 May 2010 10:03 0 Comments

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A NEW Tillicoultry Post Office opened its doors yesterday just 300 yards from the old Post Office which shut down without warning just days before last Christmas.

The new Post Office service will be trialled in Premier Store in the town's High Street following the end of the formal period of public consultation.

The joint venture with Premier Store will mean the people of Tillicoultry will once again be able to access Post Office products and services without having to travel to branches elsewhere.

Residents were shocked when the previous Post Office shut up shop unexpectedly shortly before Christmas leaving them without one for several months causing disruption for many people, particularly elderly residents who were unable to travel to other branches.

The closure followed difficulties between the sub-postmaster, who also owned the previous property, and the Post Office.

The sub-postmaster had her contract terminated after a financial audit and Post Office Ltd re-opened the Tillicoultry branch with a temporary agent to continue to provide a service to its customers, but were then refused access to do so.

Ochil MSP Keith Brown has welcomed the re-opening of the Post Office in Tillicoultry and has been in regular contact with Royal Mail, who own the network of Post Offices, since it closed last year.

Mr Brown said, "Since the previous Post Office closed last year, I have received assurances that Tillicoultry would have a restored Post Office service as soon as possible and I am very pleased to learn that services will resume from 25 May within the Premier Store on the High Street.

"I understand that a wide range of Post Office services will be available with longer opening hours during the week but also on Saturday and Sunday.

"This will not only be a bonus to the people of Tillicoultry but also to those throughout the Wee County who are unable to access the Post Office during traditional working hours.

"Post Offices can play an important role in the life of communities. As well as postal services, they can provide access to money and banking, support for local shops, and a hub for the community.

"The SNP Government has shown its commitment to our local post office by committing £1 million to help Scotland's local Post Offices survive the recession and expand their businesses.

"This announcement shows that the SNP is focused on protecting important frontline public services in these troubled economic times - even those controlled and often threatened by Westminster."

Robert Findlay, field change advisor at Post Office Ltd added, "Our priority is to safeguard Post Office services to the local community in the longer term.

"The decision to trial this new service over the next 12 months is designed to secure continued access for our customers to Post Office services well into the future.

"The success of this trial is, to a great extent reliant on customers using the branch on a regular basis and we will be reviewing the situation and any feedback received, over the coming months.

"I know that the local community will join me in welcoming this good news and I would encourage local residents to support this new joint venture."

The new Post Office benefits from an open plan counter which will offer a wide range of services alongside retail transactions, extended opening hours and a large selection of convenience products within the store.

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