Closure of post office at Spar Kinmylies necessary to future-proof store, says owner
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AN Inverness shop owner said the decision to close a local post office branch was needed to “future-proof” the business.
Spar Kinmylies announced last week that they will be closing down the post office branch run by the store from March next year, after 17 years of activity.
Shop owner Innes MacDonald said the closure was part of a series of moves to help improve the local shop.
He said: “I have been thinking about closing the post office for years. Unfortunately it takes up a prime space in the shop and it has been losing more money than we can afford.
“What we are given for each transaction by Post Office Ltd does not cover the costs of wages to keep a member of staff there.
“We also need to make sure that a member of staff who has been trained is in the shop during its opening hours. This was very difficult during lockdown.
“With the cost of energy going up next year, we can no longer afford to have it in our shop.”
Mr MacDonald, however, added that if anyone was interested in taking over the Post Office branch he would be happy to help them.
In the near future, the shop will be installing a free ATM point while stamps will be available to buy.
A Post Office spokesperson said: “This is the most challenging economic climate retailers have faced in decades and we fully recognise the pressures postmasters face to keep their branch open and serving their local community. We are required by government to have a network of 11,500 branches across the UK and currently we exceed that at around 11,600 branches trading.
“Kinmylies branch is unfortunately due to close in March 2023. We would like to hear from any interested retailers in the area who want to consider running a post office. Email us at nd.enquiries@postoffice.co.uk.”
After March, the nearest alternative branch will be Merkinch.
