Vital community asset

Relief greeted the announcement in January this year from Alistair Darling, then Trade and Industry Secretary, of new guarantees to protect post offices in the most remote parts of Scotland from closure. Anger is expected to greet the announcement today of the closure of 44 post offices in greater Glasgow, central Scotland and Argyll and Bute. What was good news for remote communities several months ago has become bad news for post offices in largely urban areas. As The Herald reveals this morning, half of the branches identified for closure are in greater Glasgow, many serving deprived and disadvantaged areas.