31-7-02

Barrett welcomes news that Dalmeny Post Office will remain open

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today welcomed news from the Post Office Ltd, that Dalmeny post office will remain open for the foreseeable future.

The post office was due to close on 7th August after the failure to find a replacement for the retiring subpostmaster. John Barrett pressed the Post Office Ltd to keep the post office open at all costs because of the difficulties that would arise for local people, especially the elderly and disabled, in accessing day to day services in the event of a closure.

Mr Barrett, who wrote to everyone in Dalmeny earlier in month, began a major petition campaign to keep open the post office and received hundreds of replies.

Now Mr Barrett has learned from the Post Office Ltd that since he began the campaign, a number of interested parties have come forward with a view to operating the branch. The current subpostmaster has therefore agreed to postpone her retirement in the short term and Dalmeny post office will consequently remain open for the "foreseeable future".

John Barrett MP said:

"This is very welcome news. Post Offices like the one in the Dalmeny, are often at the heart of local communities and deserve to be fought for. The news that the post office will be kept open in the short term is a big victory for the people of Dalmeny.

"I will continue to be in regular contact with the Post Office Ltd and will be monitoring the situation closely. The battle has been won but the war to ensure the long term future of Dalmeny post office goes on."

ENDS