100 signatures reached
To: Neil Brocklehurst, Chief Executive of the Post Office
Save Fort William Post Office - Community Petition
We, the undersigned, call on Post Office Ltd to:
1. Give the community clear and accurate information about the future of Fort William Post Office.
2. Guarantee that a full Post Office service will remain in Fort William.
3. Secure suitable and accessible premises in Fort William town centre before the existing branch closes.
4. Retain the full range of services currently provided by the Fort William branch.
5. Ensure that there is no gap in service during any move to new premises.
Fort William should not be left without a full-service Post Office, and residents should not have to travel to Oban to access essential services that are currently available in their own town.
Why is this important?
Keep full Post Office services in Fort William town centre – Community Petition
Fort William is facing the possible loss of its main Post Office after the TGJones premises at 4 Tweeddale, High Street, were placed on the market.
Attempts have been made locally to obtain clear information about the future of the premises and the Post Office service, but no firm answer or replacement plan has yet been provided. Angus MacDonald MP and Andrew Baxter MSP have also approached the chief executives of Post Office Ltd and TGJones, seeking accurate information and asking what action will be taken to secure alternative premises in Fort William.
Fort William is the main town serving Lochaber, and its Post Office is much more than somewhere to send letters and parcels. The branch serves people throughout Fort William, including Upper Achintore, Plantation, Inverlochy and Claggan, as well as residents from Caol, Lochyside and the wider Lochaber area. It is also used by local businesses, churches, charities and visitors.
Fort William is facing the possible loss of its main Post Office after the TGJones premises at 4 Tweeddale, High Street, were placed on the market.
Attempts have been made locally to obtain clear information about the future of the premises and the Post Office service, but no firm answer or replacement plan has yet been provided. Angus MacDonald MP and Andrew Baxter MSP have also approached the chief executives of Post Office Ltd and TGJones, seeking accurate information and asking what action will be taken to secure alternative premises in Fort William.
Fort William is the main town serving Lochaber, and its Post Office is much more than somewhere to send letters and parcels. The branch serves people throughout Fort William, including Upper Achintore, Plantation, Inverlochy and Claggan, as well as residents from Caol, Lochyside and the wider Lochaber area. It is also used by local businesses, churches, charities and visitors.
Services currently available in Fort William
Fort William Post Office currently provides:
Fort William Post Office currently provides:
- Cash withdrawals, cash deposits and cheque deposits
- Royal Mail and Parcelforce services
- Drop & Go and Parcelforce Express 48 Large
- Bill payments and top-ups
- Paper Passport Check & Send for new applications and renewals
- Document Certification Service
- Vehicle tax
- Foreign currency
- Travel insurance
- Travel Money Card
- Western Union
These are important postal, banking, passport, identity, travel and financial services. None of the other Post Office branches in the surrounding area provides the same complete range of services in one location.
Why Corpach is not a replacement
Corpach Post Office provides everyday personal and business banking, mail services, Drop & Go, Parcelforce Express 48 Large, bill payments and top-ups, euros, Travel Money Card services, savings application forms and savings account identity verification.
However, it does not provide passport application checks, document certification, vehicle tax, general foreign currency, travel insurance or Western Union.
The Corpach Post Office counter is also located inside a relatively small Co-op store. Redirecting customers from Fort William would place additional pressure on the premises and staff, and the branch may not have the space or capacity to absorb the extra demand.
The Corpach Post Office counter is also located inside a relatively small Co-op store. Redirecting customers from Fort William would place additional pressure on the premises and staff, and the branch may not have the space or capacity to absorb the extra demand.
Travelling between Fort William and Corpach can also be difficult for people without a car. Those relying on public transport may face delays, particularly during the busy summer months when traffic congestion affects bus services.
Other Post Offices in the surrounding area
Kinlocheil Post Office
Kinlocheil provides cash withdrawals, cash deposits, cheque deposits, mail services, Drop & Go and the Travel Money Card.
Other Post Offices in the surrounding area
Kinlocheil Post Office
Kinlocheil provides cash withdrawals, cash deposits, cheque deposits, mail services, Drop & Go and the Travel Money Card.
It does not provide bill payments and top-ups, passport services, document certification, vehicle tax, foreign currency, travel insurance or Western Union.
Spean Bridge Post Office
Spean Bridge provides everyday banking, mail services, Drop & Go, Parcelforce Express 48 Large, bill payments and top-ups, euros and the Travel Money Card.
Spean Bridge provides everyday banking, mail services, Drop & Go, Parcelforce Express 48 Large, bill payments and top-ups, euros and the Travel Money Card.
It does not provide passport services, document certification, vehicle tax, general foreign currency, travel insurance or Western Union.
Ballachulish Post Office
Ballachulish provides everyday banking, mail services, Drop & Go, bill payments and top-ups, vehicle tax, euros, travel insurance and the Travel Money Card.
Ballachulish provides everyday banking, mail services, Drop & Go, bill payments and top-ups, vehicle tax, euros, travel insurance and the Travel Money Card.
It does not provide passport application checks, document certification, general foreign currency or Western Union.
Strontian Post Office
Strontian provides everyday banking, mail services, Drop & Go, bill payments and top-ups and the Travel Money Card.
It does not provide passport services, document certification, vehicle tax, foreign currency, travel insurance or Western Union.
Strontian provides everyday banking, mail services, Drop & Go, bill payments and top-ups and the Travel Money Card.
It does not provide passport services, document certification, vehicle tax, foreign currency, travel insurance or Western Union.
These branches provide valuable services to their own communities, but they are too far away to be practical alternatives for many Fort William residents. They are outside the town, do not offer all the services currently available in Fort William, and may be difficult to reach for people without access to a car.
The nearest comparable full-service Post Office
The nearest Post Office offering a comparable full range of services is in Oban, approximately 44 miles from Fort William.
Oban Post Office provides banking and mail services, paper and digital Passport Check & Send, SIA licence applications, document certification, in-branch identity verification, DVLA photocard renewal, vehicle tax, foreign currency, travel insurance, Western Union and savings services.
Expecting residents to travel approximately 44 miles each way to obtain services currently available in Fort William is not reasonable. It would have a particularly serious effect on older people, disabled residents, people without private transport, local businesses, churches, charities and anyone needing access to passport, identity, banking or financial services.
The nearest Post Office offering a comparable full range of services is in Oban, approximately 44 miles from Fort William.
Oban Post Office provides banking and mail services, paper and digital Passport Check & Send, SIA licence applications, document certification, in-branch identity verification, DVLA photocard renewal, vehicle tax, foreign currency, travel insurance, Western Union and savings services.
Expecting residents to travel approximately 44 miles each way to obtain services currently available in Fort William is not reasonable. It would have a particularly serious effect on older people, disabled residents, people without private transport, local businesses, churches, charities and anyone needing access to passport, identity, banking or financial services.
The loss of Fort William Post Office without a suitable replacement would leave a major town and the surrounding communities without reasonable access to essential services.
44 miles is not a local Post Office service.
Please note: there is no need to chip in financially.
Signing and sharing the petition is all we are asking you to do.
44 miles is not a local Post Office service.
Please note: there is no need to chip in financially.
Signing and sharing the petition is all we are asking you to do.
