MP launches petition in bid to save Stornoway Post Office from closure threat
20 November 2024
A petition to save Stornoway Post Office has been launched by islands MP Torcuil Crichton.
The online move to retain Crown Office services in the islands’ main town comes as
Stornoway is announced as one of 115 branches under threat of closure in a hit-list
proposed by the Post Office last week following a “strategic review.”
Launching his petition, Mr Crichton declared: “This will be resisted both locally and nationally. I will do all I can to persuade government ministers of the importance of the continued service of our Stornoway branch.”
“I would urge all islanders to raise their voice, add their name to the petition and get involved in the campaign to retain Stornoway’s Crown Office status.”
Last week Mr Crichton appealed directly to Post Office minister, Gareth Thomas MP, to avoid the closure of the Stornoway branch.
Speaking in the Commons chamber he stated: “I must express concern about Stornoway post office being on the list of the 115 possible closures. The loss of the main post office would be a dreadful blow for the town, so I urge the Minister and the Post Office to ensure that islanders have full physical access to Crown post office services. All options must be considered—except closure”.
The Post Office has stated that it is looking towards a franchise model with private operators taking over the remaining Crown Offices which are directly run by the organisation.
These include the main branches in Inverness, Kirkwall and Stornoway, all of which are on the list of potential closures.
The vast majority of Post Offices around the country are already run as franchises
and there are two privately run sub-offices in Stornoway. However,
The petition is online at www.torcuil.scot/sign-the-petition /
