Published: Tuesday, 12th August, 2008 12:30
Letters keep all post offices open
By Roisin McGroarty
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SUPPORT for our post offices campaign has been coming in thick and fast from residents across all of South Ayrshire.
We’re now halfway through our campaign and with the backing of readers through our online petition, sending in a coupon and writing in shows us you want your post offices to remain open.
With just three weeks left of the public consultation we will be sending all our petition and information to mail bosses to urge them to reconsider the closures.
Reader Bobby Port, 64, has been confined to a mobility scooter since coming out of hospital earlier in the year and will be unable to use the High Street branch because of access problems.
The Wallacetown man, who stays at York Street Lane, said: “The pavement access within Ayr and especially in the town area is deplorable, it highlights our problems so much - it is a disgrace.
“I use the Newtonhead Post Office quite a lot, the reason being all the shops in the area are so handy right about it and this is a major issue for people like me.
“The High Street is okay when the weather is good but it’s so big that when the weather is not I can’t afford to catch a cold. The Newtonhead branch is only two minutes from where I live.
“This is a major issue for me and people like me, it is access for scooters and wheelchairs. I’ve only been in the scooter this year and we don’t notice these things when you are able bodied, but you do when you are in these things and it effects many people in this area of Ayr.”
We launched our campaign - including printing a full page poster for you to put on windows - after mail bosses revealed they wanted to close branches in Ayr, Forehill, Prestwick, Girvan, Dailly, Dunure, Kirkmichael, Straiton, Turnberry, Loans and Minishant.
Local politician’s have also been keen to show they support the campaign with both Central Ayrshire MP Brian Donohoe and Ayr MSP John Scott displaying our Save Our Post Offices poster.
Mr Scott previously slammed the proposals saying: “There is a high level of dependency on posts offices particularly amongst the elderly, those with poorer health, and those living in deprived areas, so any reduction in the present coverage would clearly be very unwelcome.”
While Mr Donohoe added gave his “wholehearted support” to our campaign explaining: “I am glad that people are mobilising and making their views heard. There is a very narrow window of opportunity to save Moorfield branch from closure, and I am concerned that the wishes of local people should be taken seriously.”
Meanwhile Forehill local Margaret Steed, of Ashgrove Street, added: “I wholeheartily back your campaign regarding the post office. The post office clearly needs to rethink. It is ridiculous people will have to spend more to commute to other areas.
“What will happen when it comes to Christmas, both with parcels and cards and queues, along with those needing stamps, motor tax and post orders?
“At WH Smith in Ayr High Street the situation is certainly not well planned, as can be seen people have to squeeze past the books and paper before reaching the back of the shop to stand in a very tight passage. I think, in time, it would be a great opportunity for some people to help themselves.
“However no doubt Messrs Smiths will be well paid for the use of the shop from the post office. There are plenty of empty shops which could have been furnished.
“The post office don’t seem to think about the extra stress this will put on those that they intend to remain open. So many heads of firms etc just jump and decided before due thought is given to what is involved, so long as it doesn’t affect themselves. I do trust the MSP and MPs do continue their fight in this debate.
“Do continue your campaign and good luck to all, as I for one, do like my local Forehill Post Office in Ayr.”
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