ONE furious councillor has blasted the Post Office for moving the Catrine branch without prior consultation.

Councillor David Shaw was furious with the Post Office’s procedure after Gogy’s Mini Market was the only business to apply for it.

Cllr Shaw arranged and chaired a packed meeting last Wednesday evening in Catrine Community Hall to hear representatives from the Post Office explain the proposal to move services from the current location.

A number of constituents had contacted Cllr Shaw and Cathy Jamieson MP, to express views about the plan.

In a fiery meeting, residents grilled the Post Office chiefs over their failure to publicly advertise the application process.

Cllr Shaw said: “I’m appalled with the Post Office’s system. They don’t advertise locally, only on the website and the only one who knew was the shop that got it.

“I have nothing against the people that got it at all, it’s the Post Office whose policy is totally wrong.” He continued: “The bank in Catrine closed a couple of months ago and this is just another nail in the coffin for village.” A raging Cllr Shaw told the stunned hall that the consultation period closes on November 27 but applications closed before it was even open. Ms Jamieson said: “Many residents felt unhappy that only one option was being considered, and that other local shops should have had the chance to apply to take over the service.

“Others were unhappy that the current location will not continue, and felt that another empty shop would have a negative effect on the main street.

“The consultation period is open until November 27, and I would urge residents who have a view or concerns to put those directly to the Post Office.” Gogy’s Mini Market applied to host a Post Office if there ever became a vacancy in the local area a number of years ago.

Mr I Ahmed is a co-owner in the family run business. He said: “When it was revealed a few years ago that branches of the Post Offices were starting to close I put my name down on the off chance that one became available. We went through the proper channels and applied for it and were the only ones to do so. We have done everything correctly and followed the proper process,” Cllr Shaw said that at the meeting Linda Bonar and David Spark, representing the Post Office, said it was Post Office policy only to advertise vacancies on their website and the application process would not be reopened until the end of the consultation period.

Submissions can be made during the consultation by Freepost YOUR COMMENTS to Post Office Ltd, via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, via the Customer Helpline on 08457 22 33 44 or Textphone 08457 22 33 55.

Views can also be shared online through the quick and easy questionnaire at postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 103843.