Civic leader has misgivings over Wick mobile post office opening times
Caithness civic leader Willie Mackay has expressed misgivings over the opening times of the mobile post office that will be introduced in Wick after the existing branch in the town centre closes at the end of this month.
Post Office Ltd has announced that the temporary unit will visit the riverside car park four times a week from early November to ensure a service is maintained following the resignation of postmaster Younes Amin.
The current branch in Bridge Street, within the card and gift shop Best Wishes, will cease to trade on Friday, October 30.
Councillor Mackay, who represents Wick and East Caithness, says he hopes the mobile unit will be a success but he is concerned that it will be open for only one hour on a Tuesday afternoon and he feels there could be problems with queuing.
His Wick and East Caithness colleague Councillor Nicola Sinclair acknowledged that the opening times would be limited but she pointed out that the mobile unit is a temporary solution and that efforts are being made to restore a full service.
The mobile post office will be provided by Glyn Jackson, who already offers the service to many rural communities, and is scheduled to start on Tuesday, November 3.
The opening hours will be Tuesday, 2.45-3.45pm; Wednesday, 9am-3pm; Thursday, 9am-1pm; and Friday, 1.30-3.30pm. There will be no service on Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays.
A spokesperson for Post Office Ltd said: "The travelling post office is aboard a specifically designed vehicle. It is a tried and tested way of maintaining service to communities.
"It provides the best possible temporary solution to maintain post office services to the community while we continue to seek a permanent solution."
Councillor Mackay said: "I'm very hopeful that the temporary arrival of the mobile post office in Wick will be a success. It has been a lifeline for rural parts of Wick and East Caithness for several years.
"The visiting times for Wick on a Wednesday and Thursday are good but one hour on a Tuesday I'm not happy with, as it's a long time from 3.30pm on a Friday until 2.45pm the following Tuesday for customers who want to conduct essential business.
"There is also the problem of queuing outside the van, which can be a nuisance in cold and wet weather – especially if it's a lengthy queue and the unit is only there for an hour."
Last week it emerged that local businessman Kevin Milkins had expressed an interest in setting up a post office in the town centre. Mr Milkins, who runs Birons Ironmongers in Bridge Street with his wife Dawn, has purchased the former social work building at the shore end of High Street, and has been in talks with Post Office Ltd.
Councillor Sinclair said: "I welcome the news that Wick will be served by the mobile post office unit four days a week. Obviously the times are quite limited but it’s just a temporary solution.
"In the meantime I hear that discussions are going really well between Mr Milkins and the Post Office Ltd representatives, so there’s reason to hope that the doors will not permanently close on the Wick branch. I’d like to reassure people we’re all doing everything we can and aiming for a full service again."
The Post Office Ltd spokesperson said the nearest alternative offices to Wick are in Watten, Lybster and Thurso.
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- Loss of post office a 'devastating blow' for Wick
- New post office plans for Wick
- Mobile unit to visit Wick four days a week after closure of town's last post office branch