Community to step in to deliver Brora PO services?
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A COMMUNITY group could step in to reinstate Brora Post office if a commercial operator is not found soon, it has emerged.
Brora and District Action Group (Badag) has agreed to discuss operating PO services but only, it is understood, as a last resort.
Brora has been without a full-time, permanent post office since November 2017 after the closure of its host premises Bridgend Premier Store.
The village is currently served by a mobile van which calls twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, setting up shop for two hours at the Gower Street car park.
But the announcement earlier this year that the Brora branch of the Clydesdale Bank is to close in October has exacerbated the situation.
Bank managers were widely criticised after suggesting that its customers in Brora could turn to the post office for some of their banking needs.
A high-powered meeting, organised by East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Deirdre Mackay, was held in Brora last week to try to find a way forward.
In attendance was Rhoda Grant, MSP, Mark Gibson, Post Office head of external relations, Steven Miller, Clydesdale bank head of external relations and Alison Hair, bank head of networks, as well as representatives of BaDAG, Brora Community Council and Sutherland Community Partnership.
Cllr Mackay said afterwards that the meeting had been told that an operator interested in providing post office services at Brora had pulled out, but that another expression of interest had since been received.
Cllr Mackay said after the meeting: “We sincerely hope that this most recent interest progresses to fruition but we expressed our concern at the passage of time.
“There has been a succession of people expressing an interest, unfortunately nothing has materialised.
“We have now been a considerable period of time without a permanent post office and are reluctant to lose any more time, especially with another winter approaching and people having to queue outside in all weathers for the post office van.”
She said a “fall-back position” had been discussed regarding the possibility of Badag providing postal services.
“It was agreed that the group would take this to their next meeting and carefully consider the options and potential viability,” she said.
Meanwhile a 795-signature petition protesting at the closure of the Clydesdale Bank branch in Brora has been handed in to the branch by Aleta Shaw, whose elderly parents live in the village.
She said: “I just wanted to do something to make Clydesdale Bank realise how upset villagers are. I hope bank realise the untold worry they have caused senior citizens in the village who have no access to online services.”
