POSTAL services in Clovenfords are far from first class according to the village’s councillor.

And Stuart Bell has warned plans to introduce the same mobile service to neighbouring communities could face similar problems.

No shows from the van and computer failures when it does turn up has led to frustration in Clovenfords.

Councillor Bell told us: “Much as the Denholm Post Office staff try their best to provide a full coverage of a post van visiting Clovenfords, for about an hour and a half on four days of the week. 

“This service has been a deep disappointment throughout this last winter. 

“Clovenfords had a number of weeks with no service in the run-up to Christmas when everyone has extra letters or parcels to post. Our problems were exacerbated by the lack of communication. 

“The biggest problem started in October and went on till mid-November. The computer on the van failed but solving that involved numerous parties with all the consequent co-ordination problems. 

“From one day to the next we did not know whether the van would be present, until the Community Council organised a communications chain through our resilience network. Then in December the van was off the road for another week because of mechanical problems.”

Plans to introduce a postal van to Innerleithen, following the resignation of the service by a local newsagent in the town, have been condemned by the local member.

He added: “One reason the van can only be available on a Friday in Innerleithen is that it has a committed schedule covering numerous small communities for the rest of the week. 

“We are worried that this van is getting over stretched - like us all it is getting older. 

“So Clovenfords are now asking the Post Office to consider making a stand-by van available to cover for necessary maintenance of our sole Postal Link.

“I really do not want Innerleithen to be confronted with this kind of problem so I hope that a new franchisee can be found as soon as possible.”

Despite the problems, the Post Office is standing by their van service. A spokesman told us: “Our Mobile Outreach vehicles are a tried and tested way of providing services to smaller communities.

"The Mobile Service is a travelling Post Office aboard a specifically designed vehicle that brings Post Office services and retail products to communities without relying on a fixed premises.

"The Denholm mobile vehicle did encounter some technical issues last year but these have been resolved and the vehicle is currently providing a reliable service to the communities it serves.”