Fight is underway to save Bonnyton post office

Jul 25 2008 by Colin Rutherford, Kilmarnock Standard

THE news that Bonnyton post office is marked for closure has provoked widespread anger across the political spectrum.

The Post Office this week launched a six-week consultation period on the proposed closure of 44 branches across the West of Scotland.

And the bad news is that one of the targets is Bonnyton’s post office, based in the Spar shop in Munro Avenue.

One of the first to voice his opposition to the closure was Kilmarnock and Loudoun’s Labour MP Des Browne, who has already called a public meeting to co-ordinate opposition to the plan.

He met Post Office officials last Friday and has organised a public meeting in Bonnyton community centre for Monday, August 4, at 6pm.

“I demanded that the Post Office send someone to the meeting,” he said. “They have agreed to do so.”

Local councillors and MSP Willie Coffey have also been invited.

Mr Browne said: “Since 1997 I have worked hard with East Ayrshire Council, Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and the sub-postmasters to keep these businesses alive.

“It looks like that hard work has paid off for most of the network, but I am not giving up on Bonnyton.”

He said that, with consultation continuing until September 1, the people of Bonnyton had “one last chance” to save their post office.

Meanwhile SNP MSP Willie Coffey attacked the Westminster government – of which Mr Browne, as defence secretary, is a prominent member – for its role in the closure programme.

Said the MSP: “The bottom line is that the Labour government has instructed the Post Office to save £37 million by shutting around 2500 local branches throughout the network.

“Not only did Labour take away vital services from the Post Office, such as over-the-counter benefits transactions and TV licence payments, but now the DVLA is pushing its business to online services too. It’s little wonder that the Post Office is losing income.”

Mr Coffey said that the Post Office had been forced to focus on financial targets and had not even been allowed to assess the impact of any previous closures.

“Post offices are much more than a service provider,” he said. “They are an integral part of community life in many parts of Scotland.”

The campaign against the closure plan has the backing of East Ayrshire Council.

Council leader Douglas Reid, who also represents the Bonnyton area, pledged the utmost opposition to the proposal.

“These proposals are in direct conflict with our community planning objectives to work with partners to provide services that meet the needs of people who live and work in East Ayrshire.

“This council is therefore determined to do all it can to keep our local post offices open.”

Councillor Reid said that he intended to seek a meeting with Post Office representatives and invite local councillors and Bonnyton Community Council “to put forward our case and clearly state that we are totally opposed to this, or any other, post office closure in east Ayrshire”.

And he called on local people to make their view clear to Post Office bosses.

“As a community we have six weeks to make our voices heard and ensure that Post Office Ltd is made well aware of our concerns relating to their proposals,” he said.

The government’s contribution to post office closures was attacked by Central Scotland Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell.

“Instead of managing decline, the government should be trying to bring new business opportunities to the network,” she said. “It should allow post offices to work with other postal service providers; to work with local councils to encourage them to offer more council services through post offices; and do more to give post offices the flexibility to offer a wider range of services.”

Those who want to voice their opposition to the closure of Bonnyton post office should contact the National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd, Freepost Consultation Team, e-mail consultation@postoffice.co.uk or call 08457 223344.

The Kilmarnock Standard would also be pleased to receive letters on the issue or leave a comment on this story by clicking the 'join a forum' link at the top right hand corner of this page.

For more reaction to the proposed closure of the post office, read this week's Kilmarnock Standard.