Salmond and Stevenson to Meet with Local Postmasters

Banff & Buchan SNP Parliamentarians Alex Salmond MP and Stewart Stevenson MSP are to meet with local sub-postmasters tomorrow evening (Tuesday) in Lonmay.

The meeting is the latest in a series of initiatives and activities undertaken by the SNP duo in their campaign to secure the future of the Post Office network in Banff & Buchan.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, to which all sub-postmasters in Banff & Buchan have been invited, Mr Salmond said:

“The Post Office is being discriminated against by the Government’s programme to pay benefits into bank accounts rather than continuing to support their local Post Office. This is all the more perverse as most bank branches outside of the main towns have either closed or operate reduced hours.

“A far more sensible option would be for the full range of banking facilities to be available through the Post Office network, thereby securing the future of Post Offices and also allowing customers to access their bank accounts without a journey to the nearest large town.

“This is a view I put forward during a recent Parliamentary debate and in the follow-up meetings I have had with the Scottish banks.”

Mr Stevenson added:

“It is vital that the new modernised Post Office has the opportunity to compete successfully and remain as it always has been as a vital cornerstone of our villages and towns throughout Scotland.”

“I had a useful meeting with Postwatch last month on the future of the rural Post Office network and I will be updating postmasters on that meeting and also looking for feedback.”