Rhu and Shandon residents say this is another blow after loosing Rhu PO and locals will have to travel to Helensburgh or Rosneath
By Lucy Ashton and Bill Heaney
Furious MSP Jackie Baillie has hit out at Post Office bosses accused of forcing Garelochhead’s branch out of business.
The dedicated Post Office site in the village will close on March 28th, when temporary sub-postmistress Evanda Street and proprietor Anne McQueen step back.
But it has sparked a row with Post Office bosses, who stand accused of making the business unsustainable.
It is believed that the scandal-hit Post Office now favours ‘local’ models within other businesses, rather than the traditional standalone outlet.
A similar move to create a Morrisons daily shop in Dumbarton High Street has received an angry reaction from customers who are unhappy about the new service.
The Garelochhead, pictured above, change means the company would slash £4,000 from the £9,000 annual salary attached to the job of postmaster plus a fee for transactions, currently around £14k per year.
In a letter to Post Office bosses, Ms McQueen, who owns the Rosslyn Buildings branch, said: “This reduction in salary makes the current business financially unstable and we will have to close.”
The property owner, whose family have been involved in the business for 35 years, said the Post Office previously paid for telephone, electricity and other utilities transactions but these ‘extras’ had “been eroded over the years and PO Ltd rely on the sub-postmaster to provide these necessities at no cost to them.”
Anne and her brother, who co-owns the property, have charged only a peppercorn rent for the building for a decade, in order to retain the Post Office facility in the village.
Anne added: “Historically, Garelochhead Post Office has been subsidised by my family for 35 years as we felt it was important for the village to have the services of the Post Office. We also modernised the premises with open counters at no cost to PO Ltd.”
She also believes that if another location in the area cannot be found, customers face a lengthy round trip to Helensburgh, whose Post Office may not be able to cope with the additional business.
It is believed however that the PO bosses are looking at a possible transfer to another shop within the village, but significant alterations require to be undertaken that property.
Anne said: “By retaining the current sub postmaster contract, Garelochhead Post Office is still a substantially financially profitable operation for PO Ltd.”
She added that she felt “insulted” by the current salary, which had not been increased in at least the last ten years.
The branch opens from 5.30am until 6pm on weekdays and from 5.30am until 1pm on weekends – offering Post Office services 77.5 hours per week.
Anne made an application to the Post Office to increase the annual salary to £25,000, but the plea fell on deaf ears.
And now the Post Office bosses seeking other arrangements, which has thrown the future of services in Garelochhead into doubt.
Dame Jackie Baillie, who represents Helensburgh and Lomond, has voiced her concern over the move.
She said: “I am disappointed that amidst the current Horizon scandal, Post Office Ltd has still not learned to offer hard-working postmasters and postmistresses the respect they deserve.
“It was disappointing to find out that this service in Garelochhead was under threat, but it is disgraceful to find out the circumstances under which the company is happy to lose branches.
“I would urge the Post Office to recognise the efforts of Ms McQueen and her family and do their utmost to recognise their wealth of service to the company.
“It is vital that services such as this are retained in rural communities such as Garelochhead.”
Shandon man Nick Cowie said: “This will be missed. Helensburgh PO is totally unsuitable for such a big area just two windows and long queues. It’ll be a nightmare at Christmas.”
Garelochhead Post Office will be closed at the beginning of March.