Businessman slams potential closure of Saltcoats Post Office

Kandy Bar bakery boss Stephen McAllister told the Herald: "It is the lifeblood of the Three Towns. If you take the Post Office away from Saltcoats, I don't know how some of our businesses could function."

As revealed last week, Saltcoats Post Office is one of 115 loss-making branches wholly owned by the Post Office which could be closed, or sold to another operator or franchise.

The move is part of a plan which will also see 1,000 head office jobs go in a major shake-up of its operations.

READ MORE: Future of Saltcoats Post Office under threat after new proposals revealed

However, it has been slammed by Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson who said the possible loss of services and jobs would "be felt keenly in Saltcoats and across the Three Towns".

The Saltcoats office in Chapelwell Street also includes the PO delivery base for North Ayrshire, and the employees are directly employed by the Post Office itself.

As well at the two Saltcoats bakeries, Mr McAllister also runs two shops in West Kilbride and Kilwinning - which both lost their Post Office services in recent years.

He told the Herald: "I am at a loss for words over this, It would be a real shock for the whole area, the community and businesses.

Stephen with the award-winning Kandy Bar team (Image: Newsquest) "With all the banks and building societies closing down in town centres, the Post Office in Saltcoats has kept us all going. I don't know how some of our businesses will function without it.

"We now have to do all our banking for our Kilwinning and West Kilbride stores at Saltcoats. I don't know how we would be able to run a business without the Post Office.

"If it does close, it would be an absolute tragedy for the area and it will be devastating to the local community."

SNP MSP Mr Gibson said: "The decision of the Post Office to close all 115 branches across the UK, owned directly by the UK Labour Government, will lead to the loss of up to 1,000 jobs.

“Saltcoats is one of the 10 Scottish branches slated for closure.

Saltcoats Post Office (Image: NQ) “Post Offices provide a range of vital services – particularly for older people less comfortable with technology. The loss of services and jobs will be felt keenly in Saltcoats and across the Three Towns.

“I’ve therefore written to the responsible UK minister, Gareth Thomas MP, urging him to rethink his decision and save this important community resource.”

North Ayrshire and Arran MP Irene Campbell MP warned: “If this were to happen it would be devastating for Saltcoats and the wider Three Towns area.

"The Post Office is an integral part of daily life in Saltcoats and as a community we must fight hard to ensure we do not lose this facility.  I will give my support to any campaign to save this vital service”.

Other businesses also hit out at the proposed changes which could see the town lose the vital service.

Stevenston Post Office described the potential closure as a "rather sad state of affairs".

A spokesperson added online: "Our local small towns need some access to a banking hub. We have received many calls and folk popping in and messaging us asking if we are one of the branches closing.

"Fortunately we are not closing. In saying that, it’s becoming more apparent that local small businesses need more local support than ever before to survive.

"If we can stay local and shop local as much as possible instead of the big companies as customers are only numbers to them. Whereas, local stores, i.e. convenience stores, butchers, bakers, shoe shops, care more for communities than big companies would ever do.
Shop local and save our high streets."

And the team behind the Metro nightclub in the town added: "Saltcoats Post Office closure plans will be a massive loss to the community, not only to all the local businesses but to everyone that uses it.

"We need these basic services to be kept in our town. Banks have already left which makes it harder for businesses to deposit money, exchange for change etc.

"Not having a Post Office in the town is detrimental for businesses to operate efficiently. Also our older members of the community, who pay their bills, lift cash to buy things in town, deposit money for grandchild's Christmas birthday, etc.

"I see it all the time and sometimes this is their only day out. It's more than just a Post Office, it's part of our community that needs to be kept."

In the wake of the Horizon IT scandal which engulfed the service, Post Office chairman Nigel Railton made the announcement last week in a speech to postmasters across the country, as well as retail partners and Post Office staff.

He said: "The Post Office has a 360-year history of public service and today we want to secure that service for the future by learning from past mistakes and moving forward for the benefit of all postmasters."

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said that for the company to propose such plans as the public inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal continued was "immoral" and "tone deaf".

An online petition - signed by around 500 people already - has also been launched against the local plans.