I’ve urged Post Office management to move faster to restore the Post Office counter service to Cruden Bay.
The Buchan village has been left without a permanent Post Office since last September when it closed as part of the redevelopment of the building in which it was housed and construction of a new Co-op Store. While the Co-op opened earlier this year, the Post Office service remains restricted to a Mobile Branch one hour per week.
By all accounts, Cruden Bay has very much welcomed its new Co-op Store but the continuing absence of the Post Office counter service is being keenly felt in the community.
Post Office senior management have assured me that they are trying to resolve some “technical challenges” in restoring a stable and reliable broadband connection so the Post Office can function, but they need to move faster on this. I welcome their assurance but will be keeping a watching brief on progress.
In a response to my letter, Post Office External Affairs Manager Mark Gibson replied:
“As you will be aware, a stable and secure connection is essential for the operation of our branch systems. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to install a standard fixed line service at the premises, and we do not yet have full clarity on the underlying constraints. We are actively working with our internal technical teams to understand whether any aspects relate to infrastructure provision, including whether third‑party suppliers such as Openreach are a contributing factor.
“Our field and technical teams are actively engaged in resolving these challenges as quickly as possible, including exploring adjustments to the current equipment and configuration to establish a viable connection. I recognise that this has been a frustrating delay for the community, and restoring service remains a priority for us.
I can assure you that this matter has been given a high priority and only apologise for the obvious inconvenience this will be causing your constituents. We will continue to monitor progress closely and I will update you further as matters develop.”
