A Strathearn town is losing its High Street post office, just 18 months after it launched.
The Crieff counter moved to Right Medicine Pharmacy in November 2018 but pharmacists say they are too busy with health matters to continue to run it.
The news comes three weeks after Clydesdale Bank announced it is closing its Crieff branch.
Noel Wicks, managing director at Right Medicine Pharmacy’s head office in Stirling said: “At the end of July, the post office located within the Right Medicine Pharmacy in Crieff will cease to operate.
“Right Medicine have taken this decision due to a number of factors relating, not only to the operation of the post office, but also the demands of the new services that community pharmacies will be providing for the NHS in the near future.”
He said: “There will be no interruption to the pharmacy services offered from the pharmacy as we go through the transition of ceasing post office activities.
“At the current time we understand the Post Office is looking for an alternative operator in the area.”
The High Street counter was restored, just 30 metres from its previous location, after more than a year of uncertainty. A second counter was set up in King Street to meet increased demand.
A spokeswoman for the Post Office said: “The operator for Crieff Post Office has resigned and the premises that we do not own, will be withdrawn for the post office in July.”
She added: “We understand how important a post office is to a community and we are committed to providing a post office in the area.”
Any local businesses with suitable accommodation are asked to get in touch.
Local Conservative councillor Roz McCall thanked the pharmacist team for their service and said she understood the decision to close.
“Having said that, I find this position very concerning as it highlights the issues we are facing regarding cash transactions and local banking provision in our rural areas,” she said.
“With the Clydesdale Bank closing in Crieff and the local closures in both Auchterarder and Comrie, the banks have stated that the cash provision will still be operated by the post offices. This is only possible if we have a secure and long-term post office provision.”
She added: “The model taken by banks in the closure of their branches is flawed and I urge all parties to work together to ensure Crieff and all rural communities are not disadvantaged in this way.”
Liz Smith MSP added: “This is yet another very worrying development for Crieff which has already been at the sharp end of several key local facilities shutting down.”
