Van to visit riverside car park three times a week after Wick post office closure

A postal van is to visit Wick's riverside car park three times a week, starting today, as a temporary measure following the sudden closure of the post office branch in High Street.

The mobile post office run by Glyn and Joy Jackson will be available for between three and five hours at a time.

They agreed to step in after temporary postmaster Kevin Milkins closed the post office branch at 125-127 High Street on Monday of this week, leaving Wick without a shop-based post office for the second time in just over two years.

Mr Milkins (66) had intended to pull out at the end of March but decided to bring forward his scheduled retirement from the business. He spoke of "operational difficulties" that have been taking their toll on his health.

The chairperson of the community council expressed disappointment that Wick had been left without a key public service and said she did not think the van would meet the needs of local people.

A Post Office spokesperson said yesterday: "Post Office is introducing a temporary mobile post office service to Wick to restore service to the community.

"Glyn and Joy Jackson, who operate a mobile post office in the area, have quickly agreed to provide service to Wick. They previously operated an interim service to the town.

"The travelling post office is aboard a specifically designed vehicle. It is a tried and tested way of maintaining service to communities.

"It provides the best possible temporary solution to maintain service to the community while we continue to seek a permanent solution."

The van will visit the riverside car park on a Wednesday (10.30am to 2.30pm), Thursday (9am to 2pm) and Friday (11.15am to 2.15pm).

The spokesperson pointed out that alternative post offices are at Watten and within the Co-op in Meadow Lane, Thurso.

Mr Milkins opened the post office branch in High Street in January 2021, giving the town a shop-based post office service for the first time since October 2020. He said this week it had been a difficult year as his wife Dawn died from cancer in May 2022.

Joanna Coghill, chairperson of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council, said: "The town is very grateful for the service Kevin and his late wife provided by opening up in High Street when Wick was left without a post office branch.

"They stepped in when the town needed a solution and we certainly understand and sympathise with his reasons for wishing to retire.

"The Post Office was aware of Kevin's planned retirement. They should have been in the process of planning a solution, be it opening up a branch within a business in the town or attracting a person to open up a branch.

"I believe the mobile postal van will not be able to meet the requirements of many in our community due to its timetable and availability.

"It is very disappointing that our town has again been without a public service. This is a matter that our MP and MSP should be chasing, and I hope they are.

"The community council will be voicing its concerns and disappointment directly to the Post Office, urging them to reassure our community and establish a new postal branch as quickly as possible.

"Let's hope that a solution and replacement can be sorted out sooner rather than later. We cannot be ignored and left without such an important service."

Highland councillor Raymond Bremner said: "Everyone who has provided a permanent post office premises in the town over many years is to be commended.

"While I totally understand that the delivery of the service relies on a business literally being a host, I’d like to know what the Post Office is doing to review how best it can support businesses that would be acceptable to supporting a post office service delivery within their premises and the opportunities that this may provide them.

"I’ll continue with my dialogue to see if this can achieve an improved outcome for the future.”

Mr Milkins said this week: “I just thought, there isn't ever going to be a good time to shut it. I feel that all the stresses and strains that are coming my way via the post office are more than I want to be dealing with.”

Two part-time staff were employed at the post office.

Mr Milkins also has Birons Ironmongers in Bridge Street, which has been on the market since last summer.

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