Postmaster Omar Nasir, who operates Motherwell Post Office, has taken on a branch in Allanton, Shotts, North Lanarkshire.
Allanton Post Office, which officially opened today (4 March), operates six days a week within a new convenience store selling locally-sourced products, a range of snacks, and a soon-to-open café. Lee and Demi Bannatyne, from Allanton, are running the business and café on a day-to-day basis with their extended family.
The new post office is the first, permanent, like-for-like replacement for a branch previously operated by CJ Lang who announced last summer its decision to close 31 counters in its stores. The next permanent, like-for like replacement launches in April in Balintore, Ross-shire, with further replacements to be announced in the coming weeks.
Nasir said: “This shop and post office are ideally located for residents, businesses and passing trade. We are on the A71 – the second busiest A road in Scotland with lots of passing traffic. We are very fortunate to have plenty of parking, so the post office is in a more convenient location than before and people can easily pop in for the post office, groceries, and a takeaway.
“We have lots of elderly people in the village and not all have cars, so it is essential to have a post office here. People can also do all their banking and we are open longer hours too. We have been busy from the start and each day we are getting busier as people hear what we have to offer.”
Martin Roberts, Group Chief Retail Officer at Post Office, added: “This brand-new Post Office in Allanton demonstrates the many benefits a post office provides local residents, businesses and the wider community. Our strategy is to continue to work closely with independent Postmasters, as well as our retail partners, to deliver innovative propositions that drive footfall to their stores and leads to commercial growth for our businesses. The convenience sector is key for us.”
