MSP Welcomes Post Office Service for Rathen

Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the launch of a new Post Office service to constituents in Rathen, near Fraserburgh.

The Post Office Home Service has been introduced in response to the closure of the sub-Post Office at Rathen and the unavailability of alternative premises or a new sub-postmaster.

Welcoming this new initiative, Stewart Stevenson said:

“Rathen Post Office closed some time ago and was a much-valued service within the community. Despite the best efforts of the Post Office to find someone to take on the service from a new base, it has not been possible to find someone willing to do so.

“This new service launched by the Post Office is the next best thing and will provide a lifeline service to Rathen, but particularly to those who may be elderly or inform, or who simply don’t have private transport to allow them to travel to their nearest Post Office.

“I am pleased that the Post Office has not taken what would have been a very easy option for them and simply withdraw from Rathen altogether and I commend them for supporting the community in this way.”

The Home Service is designed to provide customers living in small rural communities access to certain Post Office products and services. Customers who register for the Home Service can telephone the neighbouring Post Office Operator to order or request Post Office products and services, including stamps, mails acceptance, travel money and manual bill payments and have these delivered direct to their door during a designated delivery slot.

The Operator of the Turriff Mobile service will provide this Home Service to Rathen.

Customers wishing to use the new service should contact the Postmaster directly to register: The Operator of the Turriff Mobile service, c/o Turriff Post Office, 35 High Street, Turriff, AB53 4EA Telephone: 07767 832348.