Clamour over Merkinch PO closedown is gaining momentum

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By nichola rutherford

Published: 28/01/2009

INVERNESS BACKLASH: Trevor Nicol with the petition against the post office closure. Sandy McCook
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More than 200 people have signed a petition urging Royal Mail to reopen a popular Inverness sub-post office.

Business people in the Merkinch area mounted the campaign to save the branch in Lochalsh Road after it closed without warning last week.

It is understood that the post office closed last Tuesday for Royal Mail bosses to carry out an internal financial audit.

Yesterday a Royal Mail spokeswoman said the organisation hoped to reopen the store “as soon as possible” and was looking for someone to run it on a temporary basis, but she was unable to give a firm date.

Trevor Nicol, of discount store Nicol’s in Grant Street, is one of those behind the petition, which has been distributed to shops around the Lochalsh Road area.

It expresses their “disbelief and anger” at the closure of the post office, and adds: “The post office is the lifeblood of this area for both the private community and the local businesses alike.

“We can’t do without it and request that it be reopened as soon as possible.”

Mr Nicol said: “There’s a lot of people, a lot of infirm people, who just can’t get to the post office in the town without it being really expensive for them.

“For ourselves, we send a lot of packages away mail order and we do our own franking. They’re often a little bit bigger than the post boxes, so we need the post office to stay open.”

The businessman added: “In the event that the post office is not reopening, we want to voice our views. If we get a lot of signatures, it may encourage buyers to come along.”

The community has also secured the support of Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart, who has urged Post Office bosses to address the issue urgently.

He said: “Having spoken with their customer relations team, I understand the difficulties they face, but there are many elderly and young families in the area who use this post office.

“It is not surprising that the petition has already attracted more than 200 names, and it is vital that a temporary solution is found until this matter is resolved.

“I will be visiting Merkinch on Friday to discuss the situation with local residents and businesses.”

The Lochalsh Road post office has been run by a temporary sub-postmaster since April last year.

In December the Post Office advertised for a new partner to take on the running of the branch.