Weather forecasters got it all wrong. Was awoken at 6 am by rain tapping the window, and wind rustling around the bushes outside. That was not supposed to come for a day or two. Oh well, the Atlantic does as it pleases, and we do not complain.
Local ferry operator Calmac is advertising for deck and catering staff for the summer 2008 season. Already. They say the labour market has grown increasingly competitive and they are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit. Followed by a plug for their website on BBC and Isles FM.
The Post Office is about to announce the first 180 branches due to be closed at the end of 2008. It is a program of closures that will end up affecting 2,500 branches across the UK. Any announcements regarding the Western Isles are some way off, but are anticipated with foreboding.
This is a remote area which provides the PO with losses, and closures are deemed almost inevitable. It will however severely impact the community. Post Offices are often a hub of villages and communities, and alternatives (like the central PO in Stornoway) are often far away, and require a day's travelling to reach. You have to bear in mind that although bus services are good (for an island with 20,000 people), they're not running by city frequency. Some areas only have 2 or 3 buses a day. For those without cars, that is a problem.
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I remember reading somewhere recently that the locals converted part of their pub into the Post Office and kept it running in this way for those who couldn't access internet banking or travel distances due to their Post Office being closed down for economical reasons.
ReplyDeleteIt surely is a mercenary world these days Guido when we can't have the services others take for granted in the big cities. Modern technology is pushing aside those who live in isolated communities. Its wrong. Surely the bigger ones can help pay for these rural ones to stay open. They have no heart!
Jeanie
There really should remain some post offices there, obviously......... and to think, my daughter's too young to ship off for a summers ferry employment yet:) lol (I'd let her chose, anyway, when of age.)
ReplyDeleteSad they are closing so many. Lots of jobs lost.
ReplyDeletePam
I hope you don't loose your Post Office. Not only is there the loss of jobs but the Post Office is what allows us to carry on our business. It can't all be done on line. Although here in the U.S. we can order stamps on line, how would we mail those cards and letters if we didn't have our mail carriers and/or Post Offices. I'm not sure about other countries but I'd say we have pretty good mail service here in the U.S. I have a mail box right out in front of my house & the mailman stops there everyday (but Sunday)...leaves my mail and picks up outgoing mail, if I have any. How good is that? I can remember when we could even buy stamps from our mail carrier but that doesn't happen anymore. And that's ok. I have 3 Post Offices within 4 miles of my house and the big main post office is about 7 miles away. The rain is not "tapping" on my windows and roof today...it's "pounding." Raining cats & dogs....all day! Linda in Washington state
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