RUTHERGLEN POLITICIANS RAMP UP PRESSURE ON CLOSED POST OFFICE

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RUTHERGLEN POLITICIANS RAMP UP PRESSURE ON CLOSED POST OFFICE

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey and Rutherglen Central and North Councillor Janine Calikes have upped the ante in their fight to re-open the Rutherglen Main Street Post Office.

The Post Office closed its doors way back in June, but unfortunately for Rutherglen residents there seems to be no positive resolution in sight.

As we reported in September, Clare Haughey MSP and Cllr Janine Calikes wrote to Post Office Ltd that month highlighting the poor engagement from the external affairs team and requesting a time frame for the reinstatement of the service.

Despite two months passing, the SNP politicians claim they are still awaiting a reply.

Last week, they wrote to Kelly Tolhurst MP, the UK Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, whose portfolio covers postal affairs, to seek guidance as to how the Post Office can be made to engage with the local community.

Clare Haughey MSP branded the delay ‘shocking’ and Cllr Calikes has claimed the Post Office has ‘let down the community’.

Commenting, Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said:

“It’s frankly unacceptable that the Post Office remains closed and they aren’t engaging with either myself or Cllr Janine Calikes. We have many constituents who rely on it, and to wait five months without an operating service or any answers is shocking.

“We have met with local business owners who are ready and willing to open a Post Office service immediately. If the Main Street store doesn’t reopen urgently, then they must consider alternative sites and we remain happy to facilitate this as a matter of priority.”

Cllr Janine Calikes added:

“We wrote to the Post Office Ltd in September and within days received an acknowledgment of our letter but we have still not had the full response. Since then, we have chased this up, receiving yet another acknowledgement, but we are no further forward.

“This is a vital service which has let down the community, and the Post Office Ltd is letting itself down through their poor communication with elected representatives.”

ENDS

Notes:

Below is a photograph of Clare Haughey MSP and Cllr Janine Calikes outside the closed Post Office.