ALLOA’S Post Office will be closed next week as the search for a new permanent space continues.

As reported last week, the space is due to be closed with new tenants taking over the premises where the current post office is.

A Post Office spokesperson has now confirmed to the Advertiser that the space will close on Tuesday, July 13.

Rev. Jason Lingiah, chairman of Alloa Community Council, believes the move to be a ‘huge blow’ to the town.

He said: “Alloa has really been poorly served by the Post Office. Obviously it’s not the fault of those who are on the shop floor, but with erratic opening hours and without a shop actually operating in the premises, Alloa really does need to have a post office in it.

“Getting people to go to Sauchie, or Tullibody or Menstrie isn’t really ideal with Covid plus with parking and encouraging people to shop locally.

“It’s a huge blow, particularly as we’ve lost the Royal Bank and Santander, so people were doing banking and possibly receiving other payments from the post office.

“It’s simply a poor show.

“Everyone sends parcels from time to time, there’s also the social and community aspects of knowing your customers and those who are more vulnerable.

“Placing a unit in another shop would help to make it sustainable.”

That idea was also floated by Cllr Kenny Earle, who believes the current space upstairs in Tesco could be perfect for a post office unit.

He said: “It’s going to have a huge impact on the people of Alloa. It’s also been suggested that a mobile post office be used.

“It’s okay having that but it’s got to be a time that is suitable for the people that are using it.

“It’s not a temporary fix that people in Alloa – which, you have to remember, is the county town of Clackmannanshire – are looking for, it’s a permanent solution.”

Reiterating Rev. Lingiah’s suggestion of moving the unit into another shop, the councillor said: “I know that Tesco upstairs had a part used for [electronics] which is now closed off.

“It’s certainly something that we could look at.”

Cllr Earle also said at a public meeting eight years ago, assurances were given that there would always be a post office in Alloa. He is now calling on the Post Office to honour that commitment.

The Post Office is now looking for a retailer to either purchase or incorporate a Post Office Main into their existing or proposed business.

Anyone who is interested can visit runapostoffice.co.uk/branch/alloa-post-office-alloa-fk10-1jy?search_term=Alloa for more information.