Pulteneytown post office to close
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THE post office branch within the Pulteney Centre in Wick is to close after 14 months in operation.
The decision came after the branch was deemed to be unsustainable for the social enterprise Pulteneytown People's Project to run.
The service is due to shut at close of business on Monday, September 16. After that, users will have to make their way to the town centre post office in Bridge Street.
Although efforts had been made to seek out solutions on how to make it financially viable, the new contracts imposed by Post Office Ltd – where greater responsibility would be placed upon an outlet like PPP to run it as a financial concern itself – proved to be unworkable.
PPP contracts manager Julie Cassidy said: "Unlike before, with the old contracts, the new one – which we were signed to – meant that we had to cover overheads and staff salary ourselves.
"Post Office Ltd themselves would only pay us on the volume and value of sales that we made from the branch we hosted.
"We realised that we needed to cover our own costs at PPP. What we made from the Post Office barely covered the salary of one staff member.
While the local residents are disappointed, they've been very understanding of why we had to do it.
"We had raised concerns with them before the end of last year and we gave them six months' notice to resign from the contract we had.
"That was done with a view to both of us looking for a solution that could make this work. However, we were unable to do so and now that six-month notice period has expired.
"It is very sad that we've had to do this. While the local residents are disappointed, they've been very understanding of why we had to do it.
"We needed to ensure that our own services at PPP were still sustainable. The staff will remain as they were already here prior to the Post Office establishing a branch here."
The post office opened at the Pulteney Centre immediately after the long-established office in Smith Terrace closed its doors at the end of June 2018.
Many residents reacted to the news with Facebook comments this week.
Steve Marquis wrote: "We had the same with the post office we ran over the bar in our pub. No way would it pay for itself, sadly we had to make the same inevitable choice. Hats off to you for keeping going this long."
Maria McAdie expressed her disappointment, adding: "Sad to read this as I use the PPP post office to do our business banking since the RBS branch closed. Easy for parking and the staff have always been so good to me. Will miss the chats."
Jean McLennan wrote: "First the shops, then a bank and now a post office. It’s getting really dire for our town."
