Post Bus should be driven out of Clovenfords - claim

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CLOVENFORDS councillor Gavin Logan has delivered a warning to postal chiefs to reopen the village Post Office – before someone is killed.

The new Post Office on wheels, which replaces the counter service at the local newsagent, rolled into town for the first time yesterday (Tuesday).

However, villagers were forced to dodge traffic on a road with no pavement to post their mail and pick up their pensions after the van was driven out of a hotel car park.

Councillor Logan, who branded the closure of the Post Office “a sham”, told the Border Telegraph: “I am calling for the existing Post Office to be kept open until a permanent site can be found for the new outreach service.”

He added: “It’s essential that the people of Clovenfords do not lose their postal service.”

The decision was made to drive ahead with plans to replace the Post Office in Clovenfords with a “mobile outreach service” – despite local objections.
It was orginally planned to park the van, which also serves Fountainhall and Heriot, in the car park of the Clovenfords Hotel but the new owners have blocked the move – forcing the van driver to park on a side road.

A Post Office Ltd spokeswoman said: “Due to circumstances outwith our control, we no longer have permission to park the mobile outreach van in the hotel car park. This was brought to our attention a few days ago and Post Office Ltd has worked hard to find a solution and can confirm that the mobile will instead park at Millbank Road, Monday to Thursday between 9am and 10.30am.

“Post Office Ltd is keen to ensure that customers have access to postal services locally and if customers have preferences for alternative parking sites then we will be happy to listen to any feedback.”

But she added: “When considering an outreach service, Post Office looks at a number of factors, including the current customer usage of a branch. We are confident that the Mobile Service for six hours a week will meet customer demand.”