MSP’s hopes of saving Clydesdale post offices from axe

Aug 28 2008 by George Topp, Lanark & Carluke

THE SNP MSP for the South of Scotland, Aileen Campbell, has followed up her campaign against Post Office closures in Clydesdale by meeting various interested groups.

She has also revealed early findings from her survey among constituents in affected areas.

Last Wednesday, she met with representatives from Lesmahagow Community Council to discuss their concerns about the proposed closure of Bankhead Post Office.

She has also been in discussions with Postwatch, the postal services watchdog, about how best to respond to the proposals.

There has also been a massive response to the MSP’s survey among communities in Lesmahagow, Lanark and other parts of her south of Scotland constituency and of these the vast majority are opposed to the closure of their local post offices.

She told the Advertiser this week: “I am determined the voices of local communities are heard loud and clear during this consultation process.

“The post office closures are the direct result of decisions by the Labour Government in London – supported by their Scottish MPs. The network has been run down and now they are claiming there is no option but to close these branches.

“My discussions with community and consumer groups this week has confirmed that post offices are not just commercial outlets, they are community assets. Many act as the centre of their local community, and bring business to surrounding shops and services.

“Where my surveys show strong and clear local opposition to closure, I will be making this case directly to the Post Office in my response to their consultation.”

Under the Post Office proposals, three branches in Clydesdale will close next month – Bankhead Post Office, Lesmahagow; New Lanark Post Office; and Westport Post Office, Lanark.