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POST OFFICE PLANS TO QUIT St JAMES CENTRE – YOUR VIEWS SOUGHT

Submitted by Editor on

The Post Office seeks your views on its plans to move the St James Centre branch to Princes Mall on Waverley Bridge this August.

The proposal comes as the PO’s current lease approaches its end next year. Because the St James Centre may soon close entirely for demolition and redevelopment as Henderson Global Investors’ St James Quarter, the PO requires alternative city-centre premises.

The new branch (where the fashion outlet Joy is now), would be known as Edinburgh Crown Office. Plans for it include:

  • 9 counter serving positions
  • 3 self-service Post & Go machines with staff on hand to help
  • designated position for Fast Drop customers
  • kiosks selling 2nd-class stamps and other products/services
  • longer opening hours (with earlier starts on weekdays)
  • open-plan design and wheelchair and pushchair accessibility.

Consultation

The PO has begun a 6-week local consultation (ends 26 March) and seeks views on:
  • How suitable do you think the new location and premises are and how easy it is to get there?
  • Based on the proposed plans for the new branch and on your experience of access into and inside the current Post Office, do you have any suggestions about accessibility for the proposed new branch?
  • Do you have any concerns about the new location?
  • If so, do you have any suggestions that could help make it better for you?
  • Are there any local community issues which you think could be affected by the proposed move?
  • Is there anything you particularly like about the proposed move? 
To Spurtle's ears, it sounds as though this is an exercise in: (a) seeking ways to mitigate the worst effects of the move; (b) draw the sting out of criticism; (c) fish for compliments. However, we don't see that the PO has much choice but to make a move somewhere.

The PR people who sent out the letter about all this failed to provide a clear postal address to which comments should be sent. Nevertheless, you can contact them via postofficeviews.co.uk (quoting branch code 00382499) or email comments@postoffice.co.uk

Concerns

Edinburgh North & Leith’s Westminster MP, Mark Lazarowicz, has been quick to voice concern about the changes.

Whilst acknowledging the PO’s need to plan prudently for its city-centre future, he says that:
  • the new location would be less convenient for many in this constituency
  • it would be preferable if the branch could remain in the St James Centre until a definite go-ahead were given for redevelopment [potentially still years away]
  • the PO should consider moving ‘back’ into the St James Quarter upon its eventual completion
  • extra capacity should be provided for the Elm Row Post Office to help it cope with a likely increase in customer numbers.

Lazarowicz, too, is interested in locals’ views on this matter. You can contact him at 5 Croall Place or email mark.lazarowicz.mp@parliament.uk

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  5h Oh for God's sake - it'll be a PO desert! What about low-income folks who rely on PO accounts?

  44m

": Post Office consults on quitting St James Centre in Aug: "this would be grt shame

  1h

Oh no! Why?

  44m

how can they think of closing a site that always seems so busy? so convenient for local workers.

  19m

same old same old I should think

 

 Neale Gilhooley Surely they can negotiate a lease extension until the St James does shut, if they move the landlord will have a vacant unit till it reopens. Why dont they turn the Sub PO in Elm Row back to a full Post Office again for a few years? Get the crisps & mags out. At least you can park a car within a few metres, better for disabled access too. Or rent a unit in that vast building at the East End formerly known as the GPO!