Security risk forces post office to shut 27/2/12
Problems with the security and safety of staff and public has caused the temporary sudden closure of Stornoway Post Office.
Customers were bewildered when they were faced with a locked door on Friday morning. The post office shut without notice and did not open on Saturday or Monday.
A brief note pinned on the front door redirects customers to the sub post office at Bayhead but provides no other information.
The Royal Mail hopes the facility will re-
One customer who contacted Hebrides News at the weekend said the mysterious closure “is causing mayhem with car tax applications which have to go to Ness or Tarbert.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said it was correct that the Bayhead facility did not deal with car tax and some other services.
But he said that there was a “work-
He said: “It is possible for our staff to acess the Stornoway Post Office if people cannot wait until Wednesday.
"If they need to renew their car tax urgently they can just ask at Bayhead as long as they pay by cash or cheque which avoids a 50 mile trip."
He explained it was discovered that an issue with the counter layout at the Stornoway post office presented a potential security risk.
He said: “The whole place has to be secured and staff found, in fact, that was not the case.”
It is hoped the two engineers presently working on repairs within the facility will have the security risk fixed on Tuesday allowing the post office to open on Wednesday.