Move in offing for Dornoch Post Office
DORNOCH Post Office could be moved into the village’s pharmacy.
The proposal is the latest Sutherland development in Post Office Ltd’s cost-cutting ‘Network Transformation’ scheme.
With reduced service uptake, standalone post offices up and down the country are being moved into other shops.
Services in Golspie have already been relocated and Helmsdale Post Office could also be facing a change.
The proposed new location for the Dornoch branch is in Mitchells Chemist in the High Street, not far from its current site at Deans Lane. Customers and interested parties are being invited to give their comments on the move in a six-week public consultation.
Graham Sawyer, who has been sub-postmaster at Dornoch for the last seven years, spoke in favour of bringing the businesses together.
He said: "It makes sense, generally speaking, as you do a fraction of what you did in the past."
Mr Sawyer, from Clashmore, will be 62 at the time of the proposed change and would take voluntary retirement, but his deputy Lorraine Currie would be kept on to run the post office at Mitchells.
He added the outreach postal service he runs at Embo would continue to be provided by the pharmacy.
The Mitchells Chemist chain has already taken on the responsibility for postal services in Golspie and owner Gareth Dixon believes the Dornoch change is necessary.
He said: "It secures the long-term future of the post office. You know why it’s happening, it’s a cost-cutting move, I don’t think there’s any secret in that.
"Really, it’s about a public service. It’s not something that’s designed to generate income for myself, it will barely break even, I would have thought. It’s not driven by greed.
"I’m very interested in what the public have to say about it. That carries a lot of weight in my mind considering what we do for a living. I know the public were very supportive in Golspie and if we get that sort of reaction then we will be proceeding in the same manner. If they are against it then I will not proceed."
The migration of services in Helmsdale has been met with more resistance. Sub-postmistress Karen Sutherland is furious with the plans to incorporate her post office into the village’s Spar, and told the Northern Times it was no longer worth her while to continue providing the service under the new financial terms on offer.
Public consultation over that move has closed, but Post Office Ltd is yet to announce its final decision.
Post Office Ltd’s ‘Network Transformation’ programme is supported by substantial government funding and favours opening post offices in convenience stores.
A spokesman said: "The proposed moves are part of major modernisation programme across the Post Office network designed to make it easier for customers to do business, through longer opening hours and modern open plan environments."
If the Dornoch move goes ahead, opening hours will be increased by six hours per week.
During the public consultation, Post Office Ltd is asking for feedback on any issues customers would like considered before October 21.
Submissions can be made by Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office, by emailing comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the customer helpline on 08457 223344 or by texting 08457 223355.
Customers can also share their views online through the questionnaire at postofficeviews.co.uk using the branch code 189840.
