A LOCAL MSP has given a warm welcome to news that a small Moray community will once again have a Post Office counter service.
A year has passed since the news came that the Portessie Post Office was to close – prompting fears that no service would ever return despite assurances given at the time.
Royal Mail described the closure at the time as ‘temporary’ after the Postmaster decided to give up the position at the premises on Sampson Avenue – with the shop being withdrawn from Post Office use.
Now, however, it has been revealed in a letter to local MSP David Stewart that a weekly service would be restored to the village later this month.
Mr Stewart said: “The Network Operations Manager has written to me confirming that a Post Office outreach service will commence in Portessie Public Hall weekly on a Tuesday afternoon with effect from November 28.
“Customers will be able to access the same range of services as previously but will now also be able to pay for their Road Tax, which I’m sure will be a welcome facility.
“While the new service will only operate on Tuesday afternoons between 1.00pm and 3.00pm, I am pleased that this important local service has been restored to Portessie. If it proves successful and there is a demand, I’m sure that the Post Office will be willing to listen to the community should it wish to see the service level expanded.”