03 March 2009

Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands Labour regional MSP has expressed her concern over the plans by the Post Office to withdraw the Post Bus service running between Shieldaig and Strathcarron.

Mrs Grant commented, "I have been approached by a constituent who is anxious about the Post Office’s plans to end this service next month.

"The Post Bus has been operating on this route for many years and is highly valued, particularly by the elderly and those without their own transport.

"There is also no practical alternative to the Post Bus in what is a remote and rural area of Ross-shire.

"The local community are somewhat taken aback by the Post Office’s plan, particularly as there has been no prior warning or consultation.

"The bus is used as a lifeline by many older and less able persons who rely on the service for weekly shopping trips, including postal services, as Applecross has no post office at present.

"The service is also used by tourists in the summer months and although annual passenger numbers for the bus are relatively low it performs an important function in the community.

"The trend towards the withdrawal of Post Bus services in the north is worrying and will have a detrimental effect on maintaining rural populations in the north-west.

"I have written to the Director of Scottish Affairs for the Royal Mail Group calling on them to reconsider this unfortunate decision."

Mrs Grant added, "It is important to maintain services in remote and rural areas, particularly if the elderly and less mobile are to remain in their communities.

"We should be improving local services to sustain populations, not cutting valuable initiatives such as represented by the Post Bus."