Provost says van service 'not good enough for Wick' as High Street post office closes its doors
Temporary postmaster Kevin Milkins has spoken of the "stresses and strains" that led him to close the post office branch in Wick town centre this week with immediate effect.
It leaves Wick without a shop-based post office for the second time in just over two years. Provost Jan McEwan insisted a town the size of Wick "most definitely requires a post office" and suggested there are plenty of vacant properties that could be used for the purpose.
A spokesperson at Post Office headquarters said: "We know how important a post office is to the community. We are exploring ways to restore a service to Wick as soon as possible.”
Mr Milkins (66) had intended to pull out at the end of March but decided to bring forward his scheduled retirement from the business, citing "operational difficulties" that are taking their toll on his health.
He opened the post office branch at 125-127 High Street in January 2021, giving the town a shop-based post office service for the first time since October 2020.
His wife Dawn died from cancer in May 2022.
“It has been a difficult year, losing my wife," Mr Milkins said. "And I've had to deal with all the things at home that she used to deal with.
“I just thought, there isn't ever going to be a good time to shut it.
"I opened as a temporary solution to the fact that the town hadn't got a post office and the job as postmaster for Wick has been advertised for over three years.
“They wanted me to take on the job full-time. There was no way I wanted to lumber myself with such an onerous post.”
He said that, "to a certain degree, apart from Covid, which gave us a bit of hassle, it has worked reasonably well”.
However, Mr Milkins has become frustrated by what he calls the “relentless pursuit by utility companies to extract money off us that we believe we don't owe”.
He said: "My health has not been good. It has been very challenging in many departments, and in particular these companies that supply you with energy and water – they are just grinding me into the ground.
“I just feel that all the stresses and strains that are coming my way via the post office are more than I want to be dealing with.”
Two part-time staff were employed in the post office business.
“The staff are well thought of," Mr Milkins said. "They have worked incredibly hard.
"I'm surprised at how kind everybody has been. Comments on our Facebook page have been, 'We're sorry to hear you're going but thanks very much for what you've done.'
"I did expect some negativity but I've not seen any yet."
Against a backdrop of bank branch closures in recent years, Mr Milkins believes that a banking hub – combining post office and bank services – could be the way forward for the town.
“What really needs to happen is for the banks, the Post Office and the community leaders to get round the table and say, 'How can we finance this job properly? Can we run this better?' The whole situation has got to change," he said.
"It needs to be something new. The buzz word now is 'banking hub' and I've had a long conversation with Jamie Stone [MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross] about it.”
In a Facebook post at the weekend, Mr Milkins stated: "Due to operational difficulties, I have decided to bring my scheduled retirement forward and call it a day with the Post Office.
"I do appreciate this decision will be an inconvenience to some, but I don’t think there will ever be a good time to pull the plug.
"There is no single reason for making this decision, but lots of small issues that are having an accumulative effect on my health.
"I thank everyone that has helped and supported us over the last couple of years and I hope someone will step forward to run a service for the town."
A notice stuck to the front door of the premises says: "This Post Office is now closed. 20/2/23."
Councillor McEwan said: “A town the size of Wick most definitely requires a post office.
“Everyone needs to raise this issue as it is another service Wick is losing and, once lost, very difficult to get back.
"At the moment the post office van is off the road for repairs and I do not believe that the van is a good enough service for Wick – no disrespect to the driver.
“There are plenty of vacant properties that the Post Office could accommodate.”
A London-based Post Office spokesperson said on Monday: “Wick Post Office has unfortunately closed with immediate effect from today due to ongoing staffing issues. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this unplanned closure as we know how important a post office is to the community.
"Alternative branches in the area include Watten and Thurso. There are also mobile post office stops. Customers are advised to visit www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder to see the locations, opening hours and services available at each branch.
"We are exploring ways to restore Post Office service to Wick as soon as possible.”
On the question of the mobile post office being off the road, the spokesperson said: “The van is having some work done, but it should be operational by Wednesday.”
Mr Milkins also has Birons Ironmongers in Bridge Street, which has been on the market since last summer. He has run the popular shop for about 12 years in conjunction with business partner Harold Hill.
Mr Milkins said when the shop went on the market that he felt it was time to retire from the business and sell it. The asking price is £239,000 plus stock at valuation.
It provides a wide range of DIY goods along with picture-framing and key-cutting services.
"Hopefully we can get somebody to buy it because Birons is quite a good-going business,” he said.
Mr Milkins, who is originally from South Wales, has yet to decide on his longer-term plans and whether he will stay in the area.
He said: “I've said I wouldn't make any decisions until the first anniversary of my wife's death to give me time to absorb exactly what I want to do.”
