WEIR RECEIVES GAURANTEES ON ANGUS POST OFFICES

Angus MP, Mike Weir has been given a guarantee from Trade & Industry Secretary, Alistair Darling, that none of the Post Offices in the 38 postcode areas exempted from the government’s rural access criteria in their current consultation on post office closures, will be subject to compulsory closure as part of the government’s current closure plan.  This includes post offices in Angus which are covered by postcodes PH11 and DD9, which covers a large part of the Glens areas.

The guarantees were given by Mr Darling when he appeared before the Trade & Industry Select Committee, of which Mr Weir is a member,

“Thirty seven of these postcode districts are in Scotland, many in Perthshire and one in Angus.  However, as the PH postcode crosses into the Angus county, this includes the Post Office in Glenisla which comes under the PH11 postcode.

“Although there is no guarantee that no offices will be closed for other reasons it does mean that they will not close under the current scheme, and that is very welcome.

“Post Offices play an important part in our communities.  We have seen many closures of rural Post Offices throughout Scotland, including several in Angus.

“This does not, however, address the fact that people in large parts of rural Angus do not have access to post Offices in line with the national criteria and I have also called upon Mr Darling to ensure that the Post Office looks at including these areas within the outreach programme, which would mean they would receive some services by means of mobile office or part office or other local facilities.  I will continue to push on this point.

“I would also urge everyone in Angus to read the consultation document and take part in the consultation on www.dti.gov.uk/consultation/index.html.

Mr Weir is also happy to print copies of this document to those who do not have internet access.