13-11-02

“Future of Dalmeny Post Office secure” says Barrett

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today welcomed the news that Dalmeny Post Office will stay open for the foreseeable future.

It follows concerns that the post office would close on 27th November, after an inability to find a replacement for the retiring subpostmistress, Betty Hardie.

However, Mr Barrett has learned from the Post Office Ltd that Ellen Mavor, the current subpostmistress of Kirkliston Post Office, has agreed to take over the running of Dalmeny Post Office on an interim basis. This will allow those who have expressed an interest in running Dalmeny post office in the longer term to be interviewed. The opening hours will be unchanged from 9am-1pm, Monday to Friday.

In a statement, John Barrett said:

"I am delighted that Dalmeny Post Office will be kept open. Many local people in Dalmeny had written to me concerned about these rumours of closure. For many of them, the post office is the focal point of the village.

"It is now important that the people of Dalmeny make full use the post office. If Government plans to close over 3,000 post offices across the UK are realised, residents in Dalmeny and throughout Edinburgh must learn to adopt a simple policy when it comes to their local post office - use it or risk losing it!

"I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Betty Hardie for her commitment and service as sub-postmistress in Dalmeny over so many years. I wish her all the very best in her retirement."

ENDS