Alan Reid, Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll & Bute, has called on both Argyll & Bute Council and National Savings & Investments to think again before taking more business away from post offices which are already struggling to remain profitable.

The Council’s Budget proposals recommend an end to the current practice of placing planning applications in the local post office if there is no Council office in the community in which the application is situated.

Mr Reid said, “This proposal would make it more difficult for rural residents to study planning applications and would deprive struggling post offices of badly needed income. I understand that the Council would only save £5,000 a year by implementing this proposal. I expect that more than £5,000 would be spent in Council officer time showing people planning applications in Council offices and responding to letters of complaint from irate residents who are annoyed that they have to travel many miles to a Council office to see a planning application. I urge all Councillors to vote against this proposal at the Council’s Budget meeting next Thursday (12 February).”

Mr Reid also criticised National Savings & Investments for their plans to stop holders of NS&I cash ISA’s from being able to make cash deposits into their ISA over the counter at a post office from 6 April.

He said, “The removal of this service will deprive post offices of income and will greatly inconvenience many ISA holders, particular those who live in rural areas. I urge NS&I to think again.

“The Council and Government bodies like NS&I should be giving more business to post offices, not taking business away and depriving people or their choice to use their local post office.”