Carers in Scotland fight post office closures

Carers in North Scotland are distraught that their local office has been threatened with closure. 

For most people, the closure of post offices is an inconvenience - for carers in small rural communities like Rothiemay in North Scotland, losing their local post office means a difficult journey to collect their carers' benefits, as many people are without cars. Carers have recently learnt that four post offices in the local area will be closed, which will have a drastic effect on people's access to vital services such as banking.

A  high profile campaign which included First Minister Alex Salmond, and local MP Angus Robertson and featured a public march, has failed to save the post offices including Rothiemay Post Office and store.

Local carer Ian Wilson has been leading the fight and plans to oppose the decision.  "We have no public transport in the village,and the decision to close Rothiemay will have a massive impact on me as a carer.I will be away for hours rather than minutes, just to get my direct payment.  The expense will have a knock on effect for me too of having to go elsewhere to get my benefit money.

Carers also use the post office to pay bills - the outreach service only runs twice a week and if it doesn't arrive its a long wait for another pay day. This will be especially so in the winter months."

Support Ian's campaign: Wilsoniwil@aol.com

Read the full article in the Northern Scot here...