Paisley's post office will close despite months of campaigning to save it

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Politicians hit out at decision, insisting that it's a slap in the face for the people of Paisley

The battle to save Paisley’s main post office from closure has been lost.

Post Office Ltd announced earlier this year it was considering shutting the Crown office in The Piazza and moving part of the facility to W H Smith in the High Street in a cost-cutting move.

It launched a consultation exercise to get people’s views on the matter.

But the Paisley Daily Express can reveal that bosses will today officially announce it will shut.

Mhairi Black, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, claimed the news is a slap in the face for the people of the town.

She said: “This is bad news for Paisley and a clear sign that the Post Office chiefs simply are not interested in the opinions of the people of Paisley.

“You have to wonder what was the point of the consultation exercise when it seems that everything was already pre-decided by the Post Office.

“The replacement post office, planned, we believe, within the WH Smith store in Paisley’s High Street, will not provide the same range of services.

“It will now mean that anyone looking for biometric services – such as getting a new or replacement passport – will have to travel to Glasgow instead.”

George Adam, MSP for Paisley, was also dismayed at the news, insisting it comes as no surprise.

He said: “I took part in their ‘consultation’. I would be deeply interested to find out how many people contributed and wanted the post office to move.

“It was revealed in the Paisley Daily Express that they were looking for staff for their new store on the High Street while the consultation had not even been completed.

“I said it before and I’ll say it again, this whole process is a sham, purely a PR exercise to make themselves look good. I would like to see the results, analysis and contributions made to their consultation. Once that is done we could look at the difficulty for disabled people to access the new premises.

“I know the people of Paisley do not want this to close and move to the High Street. Unfortunately this is an area where democracy is a bad word.”

Mr Adam said Post Office Ltd claimed there are financial reasons for the move, but refused to reveal the financial position of the Piazza store.

He said: “This is an incredibly disappointing decision, even though we all knew what the outcome would be.

“It makes it no less devastating for the staff involved and their families and the people of Paisley.

“The largest town in Scotland, and according to some, not fit to have a Crown Post Office.”

SNP Council group leader, Councillor Brian Lawson, branded the news a “disgrace”.

He said: “This is a slap in the face not only to the people of Paisley but the whole of Renfrewshire.”

And Neil Bibby, West Scotland MSP, said: “This is a disgraceful decision that will come as a major disappointment to many post office customers and staff. Post Office Ltd have completely failed to be open and transparent about this closure and this decision therefore cannot be justified.”

Post Office Ltd said it received just 29 representations plus a petition on the matter. And bosses confirmed it would move to W H Smith.

Roger Gale, general manager for the Post Office’s Crown branch network said that the change would help to ensure the branch is commercially viable in the future.

He said: “Our customers’ needs continue to change and we are responding to that, taking the right action to sustain our services for years to come.”

The new branch will have five counters in total and two self-service kiosks, opening from 9am to 5.30am Monday to Saturday.

The range of Post Office services will continue to be available, with the exception of the Biometric Enrolment Service for the Home Office which will transfer to Glasgow Crown Post Office branch in West Nile Street, Glasgow.

“WH Smith already operates around 100 post office branches throughout the UK and we have been successfully working with them for nearly 10 years,” Mr Gale said.

The date for the opening of the new post office will be announced soon.

[hans solo]

just boycott wh smiths people of paisley