Post Office water problem may force closure - Golspie

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Golspie postmistress Emma White is growing increasingly concerned that she may have to shut the branch because of health and safety issues which are beyond her control.

She claims that the unauthorised feeding of a roadside gully into her private drain has resulted in water and sewage "back-up" through the toilet and sink, which would breach health and safety standards, thus possibly endangering herself and staff.

She told the NT this week: "This is all down to work carried out along the A9 through Golspie many years ago, undertaken by Highland Council on behalf of the then trunk road authority - the Scottish Government - who then awarded the resurfacing contract to a private company. Since then, successive trunk road authorities have undertaken resurfacing but there are still problems.

"At the beginning of the year, I commenced building work on the Post Office premises and, during the course of that, it appeared that the gully had been diverted into my drain!

"Since then I have tried to get something done about it, contacting John Thurso MP and also Highland councillor Ian Ross, who have been dealing with Transerv, Transport Scotland, and Scottish Water, but things keep going round in circles as no-one has accepted responsibility.

"But it came to a head on Saturday when water started backing up through the toilet. I again attempted to get someone in authority to deal with it but it wasn't until Tuesday afternoon, when Scottish Water arrived, that some of it pumped away.

"However, it was only a temporary measure and I have no idea when it is going to happen again.

"I certainly don't want to shut the Post Office but I may have to. I find it maddening when this is nothing of my doing."

Ian Ross said: "I have talked to Emma on a number of occasions this week and have been in contact with the key agencies.

"This is a cause of concern and clearly the current blockage has significant implications for the Post Office. I am not clear over who the responsible authority or authorities might be, but I am keen that the key parties discuss the issue and look at how this can be moved forward to an early resolution - as such I have been in contact with Transerv, Transport Scotland, Highland Council and Scottish Water to encourage early discussion and also agreement on more immediate action to address the blockage problem.

"The clear indications are that Ms White is an entirely innocent party in this situation and that it should have been resolved well before the crisis of the current blockage.

"I am very concerned over the inconvenience and nuisance this is causing to Ms White and the key service she provides to the wider community."

Cathel R Macaskill, Transerv's customer service manager, said on Wednesday: "We are working with Transport Scotland, the local authority, the local councillor and Scottish Water to find an early solution to this issue."

And he contacted us yesterday (Thursday) to say all agencies involved are to meet at Drummuie next week to discuss a long-term solution to the problem.