Temporary solution found for Speyside post office customers

Dufftown Post Office
Dufftown Post Office – temporary replacement

ESSENTIAL POST OFFICE services will resume in a Moray town left without any after a sub-post office was closed without warning.

Local politicians have welcomed a “partial restart” of Post Office services – in particular relating to the payment of pensions.

Many people in the town were left in limbo with long distances to travel to collect payments or conduct normal post office counter services were suddenly halted in May. Now the local postmaster in Buckie, Paul Munch, has stepped in to provide a temporary service in the town until something more permanent is put in place.

Welcoming the move local councillor Pear Paul said: “Services like our Post Offices are vital to the health of communities like Dufftown and this partial re-opening is a step in the right direction after the sudden closure that caused real concern for people in and around Dufftown.

“Post Office Ltd are making clear this is a temporary solution and they are working towards a permanent fix to this unfortunate situation. This is temporary good news and I hope that something more permanent is in place as soon as possible.”

Her SNP colleague on the Speyside ward, Mike McConachie, added: “The Post Office closure was a shock to the community, especially when it was followed by the announcement that RBS were closing the bank.

“This is only a stopgap measure but this temporary measure will offer some reprieve to those who have been struggling to access their finances and other postal services.”

Moray’s MP Angus Robertson had called for “urgent action” from Post Office Ltd when it was first revealed that customers were having to make ten mile journeys to the nearest post office. Last night he welcome the news that a temporary solution had been found: “Clearly restricted opening is not ideal but I know that Post Office Ltd has been working hard to get something in place in challenging circumstances.

“I also commend the Buckie Postmaster who has stepped up to provide a temporary service, helping folk in Dufftown and I am also pleased that Post Office Ltd are being very clear that they are continuing to seek a more permanent solution.”

The temporary service will operate on a part-time basis from the Dufftown Pharmacy on Balvenie Street from next Monday, with David Duff from Post Office Ltd saying: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Dufftown and we are confident that this temporary measure will meet the needs of the local community until we find a permanent solution.”