POST OFFICE CUTS WILL CAUSE REAL DIFFICULTIES, SAY CAMPBELL & SMITH

5.21.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Jul 2008

North East Fife's parliamentarians have joined forces to express their grave concerns about the post office's proposals to reduce services in North East Fife. Sir Menzies Campbell MP and Iain Smith MSP criticised the plans to close the Lower Largo and West Port Cupar POs on grounds of a reduction of accessibility and a severe loss of amenity to both communities; they also voiced reservations about the planned reduced hours at Guardbridge.

Sir Menzies Campbell said, 'The post office at Lower Largo is the only cash facility in the village, 29% of whose population is elderly. The suggested alternative at Lundin Links is up a steep hill and lacks suitable car-parking, while the bus service between it and Lower Largo is somewhat sparse. As for West Port, it has good car-parking in the vicinity and is easily accessible, both important considerations with 23% of Cupar's population being elderly, not to mention a proposal for over 1000 new houses nearby. There is a real fear that, should West Port close and its customers all go to the main post office in Crossgate, the latter would be overloaded, particularly at peak times. I am relieved that Guardbridge is to remain open, though would prefer if it were to be open three two-hour days a week rather than only two.'

Mr Smith added, 'The services provided at these localities are of particular value to the increasing elderly population of North East Fife who will face real difficulties if the proposals are carried out. I am pleased, however, to report that the Post Office has assured me that the proposed cut in hours for the Springfield hosted service is just that, a proposal. The Post Office are keen for the people of Springfield and the surrounding area to make comments upon this suggestion so I urge them to take this opportunity to tell the Post Office what they think of the idea that the hours be reduced from ten hours over three days to six hours over two.'

ENDS