News / U-turn on decision not to replace Burravoe post office
THE POST Office has performed something of a U-turn regarding its service in Burravoe in Yell, which faced closure.
The company is now saying it will explore keeping a postal service going in the community instead of permanently closing it.
Shetland News reported earlier in the week that the Burravoe branch was due to close in July following the retirement of the postmistress, who runs it from her home.
This caused concern in the community, especially over a lack of public consultation.
The owner of the small Brough Store shop said he was interested in taking on the post office service, especially as he is aiming to open a full shop there in the coming weeks.
But he claimed Post Office were advising it would cost at least £10,000 to do so as new equipment would be needed.
Earlier in the week the Post Office confirmed there were no plans to relocate the service after carrying out a review.
But in an update released on Friday, the company confirmed it was now seeking someone to take on the service.
A Post Office spokesperson said: “With the retirement of the long-serving postmistress in Burravoe in July, we have now agreed to advertise the vacancy to try to maintain Post Office services in this remote community.
“The vacancy will soon be advertised on www.runapostoffice.co.uk.
“We are aware that there is a new shop opening in Burravoe and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss the business opportunity with them or anyone else.”
Responding, MP Alistair Carmichael said: “I wrote to Post Office management last week to determine exactly what their intentions were and the reason for a lack of consultation. I am glad that they seem to have seen sense and agreed at least to open up offers of interest. A basic consultation really ought to be the bare minimum we should expect.
“If there is already interest in someone else taking up the franchise locally – and I understand that there is – then for the Post Office to dismiss this out of hand without even a discussion would have been entirely counterproductive.
“If it proves to be the case that there is no viable business locally that would be one thing, but for that to be proven they must consult the community.”
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