A North Lanarkshire councillor is seeking assurances from the Post Office that the organisation will keep working to establish new services in Motherwell as the one-year anniversary of a branch closure approaches.
In February 2024, Post Office services were removed from the Civic Square branch at 224 Airbles Street and no replacement has been found.
This followed the closure of the Muir Street branch at the top of Motherwell Town Centre and across from the train station in May 2023.
The Post Office described the branch closures as temporary whilst seeking to find a new postmaster.
However, Motherwell South East and Ravenscraig councillor Nathan Wilson has expressed concerns that the lengthy closures mean the reduced service provision may now be more accurately described as permanent.
In a further representation to the Post Office, he has again highlighted the importance of establishing new branches in Motherwell.
Councillor Wilson said: “The closures at both Airbles Street and Muir Street has significantly reduced the availability of Post Office provision for local residents in my council ward and it is disappointing that replacement services have not been established.
“Whilst I appreciate that the Post Office described both of these closures as temporary, services at Airbles Street were now withdrawn 11 months ago and the Muir Street branch ceased operations 20 months ago.
“As such, it is difficult to reach any other conclusion than the removal of Post Office services in the Watsonville and Motherwell Town Centre areas have unintentionally become permanent with a considerably reduced postal offering now established locally.
“Given there has been a lengthy period where no replacement branches have been set up, I am seriously concerned that the longer this situation continues, the bleaker the prospects of putting in place new Post Office services.
“I urge the Post Office to do everything possible to set up new branches in Motherwell and ensure service provision can return to it’s previous levels.”
At that time of the closure, last year a Post Office spokesperson said: “The Postmaster for Civic Square Post Office, Motherwell, has resigned and the branch at this location is unfortunately due to close.
“We know how important a Post Office is to a community.
“The vacancy has been advertised on www.runapostoffice.co.uk and we would like to hear from interested retailers and our field team has visited the area. We are working hard to keep any period of closure to a minimum.”
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