Good news has emerged for Angus residents who believe the county’s Post Office counters are “under siege”.
Despite a previous announcement to the contrary, the Post Office has declared its shop in Westmuir, Kirriemuir will remain open after this month.
Angus MP Mike Weir, who has urged the firm to “come clean” on its wider plans for relocating and closing counter services across Angus, welcomed the news.
“This is good news and, I am sure, will be welcomed by everyone in the community,” he said.
“There are still, however, concerns over other post offices within Angus.
“We have still to hear the outcome of the changes proposed in Forfar and Kirriemuir and I await with interest what comes of these applications to move office.”
Angus councillor Ronnie Proctor was also concerned about the impact the closure of the Westmuir branch would have on wider Kirriemuir services.
There is ongoing consultation with regard to post office services in Monifieth while, elsewhere in Angus, six-week consultation programmes have closed in respect of Kirriemuir, Forfar, Edzell, and Brechin.
Post Office Ltd is still in consultation over the future of the Timmergreens outlet on Arbirlot Road, Arbroath.
The proposal is to close the existing office and have services provided from the neighbouring RS McColl newsagent shop.
The Brechin office will flit from its dedicated berth on Clerk Street to Hendry’s newsagent on Swan Street next month.
Angus Council leader Iain Gaul said it was a fait accompli for any branch that was singled out for change, as change would inevitably follow.
The consultations, he argued, were a “box-ticking” exercise and he would have more respect for the Post Office if it described the process as a presentation exercise rather than a proposal and consultation.