A CONSUMER watchdog has hit out at the Post Office over the decision to withdraw the only free ATM service in a small Highland community.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) claim the decision will force residents in Fort Augustus to travel 18 miles to get cash from the next nearest free-to-use ATM in Drumnadrochit.

Locals will be able to withdraw money over the counter at the newly-located Post Office, but outwith opening hours they will be forced to pay £1.99 to withdraw cash from the village's other ATM.

In a letter to MSPs and councillors covering Fort Augustus, CAS also claims that it has "significant concerns" over the way the decision was pushed through.

The letter states: "I am writing to express our concern regarding Post Office Ltd's (POL) decision to remove the free-to-use cash machine (ATM) from Fort Augustus post office, as part of the relocation of the branch from its current premises to the village's Londis store.

"Following public consultation on this proposal, CAS scrutinised the proposed branch relocation and raised significant concerns about the loss of the ATM facility with Post Office Ltd.

"Although local residents will be able to withdraw cash or check their account balance over the post office counter, which will open for longer opening hours as a result of the change, the only alternative means to access cash when the post office is closed will be to use the external ATM at the Londis store of the Glen service station, which according to the latest LINK data charges £1.99 for each transaction."

It adds: "CAS also has significant concerns about the way in which Post Office Ltd decided to proceed with the loss of the ATM facility.

"This decision has been taken outside of the agreed consultation and decision making process for the ongoing post office restructure programme, which is reflected in a Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the Post Office and the CAS."

CAS also claim that, while there was a consultation on the relocation of the Post Office, there was no mention of the withdrawal of the cash point.

A Post Office spokesman said: "The decision to re-locate Fort Augustus Post Office was made to provide a sustainable post office for people in the area. The move offers considerable benefits for customers including significantly longer, seven days a week opening hours and dedicated customer parking. which are not available at its current site. Customers can make free cash withdrawals from all major UK bank accounts from the Post Office card account over the Post Office counter during the long opening hours.

"Post Office did of course ensure that a full public consultation and the correct decision making process was undertaken.

We were unable to move the free-to-use Post Office ATM as the store already had a contract for a pay-to-use external ATM."

The politicians who were sent the letter include Drew Henry MP, Fergus Ewing MSP, Dave Thomson MSP, John Finnie MSP, Jean Urquhart MSP, Rhoda Grant MSP, Mike McKenzie MSP, David Stewart MSP, Mary Scanlon MSP and Jamie McGrigor MSP.