Post office move scrapped

Jan 14 2009 by Kieran Westbrook, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

PROPOSALS for Ecclefechan's post office to move to the village’s Costcutter store are to be scrapped.

And now people in the village will have to rely on an “outreach” service from Lockerbie Post Office.

Closures of 19 post offices were announced in October, with Ecclefechan’s service earmarked to move to the Costcutter store.

But Post Office Ltd has abandoned the proposal in favour of a service which will involve a portable unit making a daily trip from Lockerbie.

Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell, who backed a village campaign to retain the service, has condemned the Post Office’s decision.

He said: “It has become apparent throughout this exercise that the Post Office has complete contempt for the people of the Ecclefechan area and has no interest whatsoever in what sort of service is delivered there.

“They were simply hell-bent on closing the existing post office regardless of the consequences and have treated the local sub-postmaster appallingly.”

The MP has written to UK Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson urging him to investigate the situation.

He added: “I have been told they are going to consult on this change; but many people will fear that it will be the same sham consultation as before.

“It is unlikely the existing branch can be saved but the way in which the Post Office has handled this should not go unchallenged.”

Ecclefechan residents reacted angrily to the news that the post office was to close.

But petitions and protests fell on deaf ears and the decision was made to close the post office and move it to within the Costcutter store in October.

Now that decision is set to be reversed with residents left without a post office in their village.

A spokeswoman at Post Office Ltd said: “Naturally we are disappointed that the original proposal for Ecclefechan has had to be changed.

“However, the hosted outreach service will allow us to continue to provide a full range of services within the community. ”

A six-week public consultation on the new proposals is now taking place.