A FRESH plea for businesses in Innerleithen to come forward to provide a Post Office service was issued this week.

The call was made after it was revealed that negotiations between Caldwell’s Ices and the Post Office had broken down, bringing fears that unless anyone else comes forward, the town may lose a permanent provision for good.

At the latest meeting of the community council on Monday, chairman Marshall Douglas said: “Unfortunately communications had broken down between Andrew Caldwell, of Caldwell’s Ices, and the Post Office over failing to meet the criteria with his proposed opening times. 

“The community council has made strong representations to the Post Office to get a permanent provision, and our invitations for a Post Office representative to come along to one of our meetings was declined. The Post Office was still open to offers from local concerns to provide a service, subject to meeting their criteria. 

“We’re appealing for any local businesses in Innerleithen who feel they can take on the service, to come forward and write to the Post Office.”

Currently a Friday morning mobile service is operated by the postmaster from Denholm Post Office, with a vehicle located outside Innerleithen Parish Church, on Leithen Road between 9.30am and 1pm. 

The once-a-week service enables customers to send mail, collect benefits in cash, purchase euros and buy National Express tickets.

The nearest full-time Post Office is located more than two miles away in Walkerburn, with another branch seven miles away in Peebles.

The Peeblesshire News reported in February that a six-week consultation had been launched by the Post Office over the proposals to install a mobile service in Innerleithen.

This followed closure of the concession located within the Daymart Newsagents on the town’s High Street.

The consultation over a one-day mobile service was met with backlash from local politicians and residents, who set up a petition to restore full Post Office services in Innerleithen and appeal for local businesses to come forward to take on a Post Office concession within their stores.

Any local businesses interested in taking on a permanent Post Office provision in Innerleithen should visit the ‘Contact us’ page at www.postofficeviews.co.uk.

Enquires can also be made via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, or by calling the customer helpline on 03457 22 33 44.