Inverkeilor Post Office proposal “Incomprehensible”

Angus MP Mike Weir addressed a well  attended public  meeting at Inverkeilor Church Hall on Friday evening   to discuss the Post Office proposal to close the existing Post Office and establish an Outreach service at the church hall. The Meeting was chaired by the Reverend Peter Phillips . Cllr Bob Spink and Cllr Donald Morrison both also addressed the meeting.

Speaking after meeting Mr Weir said

“The excellent attendance showed the level of concern and commitment of the people of Inverkeilor and District to retain their post office. Several very important and relevant matter were raised by the audience and there is clear concern that the loss of the Post Office service will undermine the viability of the last shop in the village.”  

“In Inverkeilor, there are some special features that the post office seem to have failed to fully take on board. In their own branch access report they take the population served by the Post Office as 293, and say the average customer sessions per week is between 100 and 199. By any measure that means that the Post Office is regularly used by a very large proportion of the local population.”

“They also cite the nearest post office as Cliffburn in Arbroath. However looking at the bus time tables I calculate that it would take someone relying on public transport the best part of a day to travel from Inverkeilor to Cliffburn and back to simply use the post office. Worse than that it would involve changing buses. This makes the journey very difficult for the elderly and those with mobility difficulties.”

“The closure of Inverkeilor would also leave a very large area of central and east Angus without easy access to postal services. If it is closed there will be no full time office between Montrose and Arbroath or across to Letham and Brechin. Worse than that, however, much the same would apply to shopping since Inverkeillor shop is the only one between Ferryden and Arbroath or across to Friockheim and Brechin.”

“It seems to me absolutely incomprehensible in these circumstances that the future of post office services in the village should be threatened in this way.”

Cllr. Donald Morrison added that it was vital that villagers made their views known.

“Unfortunately there is a very short time in which local people can make their views known since the public consultation period ends on 8^th July. I would urge everyone who has concerns to write to the Post Office and Postcomm within that period. “

“They should also urge their friends and colleagues to do likewise. Clearly there is huge support for the retention of a full service  in the village and Post Office limited must be made fully aware of the concerns.”