Fazal Mohammad's two main allies are his customers and hope. By early next week he will discover whether his post office in Glasgow has secured a reprieve and can continue trading or faces what many believe is the inevitable - closure.
Since the announcement of the consultation on closures in October, Mr Mohammad's post office has become something of a cause celebre.
East Dunbartonshire MP Jo Swinson raised the closure at Westminster, while her party leader at Holyrood, Nicol Stephen, led a protest march from the post office in Kelvindale to the next nearest in Anniesland, more than a mile away.
Although located in Glasgow's much sought-after G12 post code area, Kelvindale attracts its custom from a wide demographic area.
While on one hand it benefits from the lucrative "Amazon" deliveries, a professional and technologically literate clientele shopping online, much of the custom also comes from nearby Maryhill where benefit collection is the main reason for post office usage.
A consultation on the future of 44 post offices in Glasgow, Central Scotland and Argyll closed last month and the decisions will be published by the middle of next week. Half of those facing the axe are in Glasgow.
Mr Mohammad's belief that his business will not be amongst the raft for the chop may not be without foundation. The Herald understands that Hyndland Post Office, again around a mile away, has been told it will not shut, providing hope for others in the same situation.
But by the same token, if at the end of the consultation period a post office branch is removed from the list of proposed closures, then Post Office Ltd would have to propose another branch for closure within the same area.
Mr Mohammad, who just opened his post office at the request of Royal Mail 18 months ago when the nearby Cleveden branch shut, said: "Whatever happens I personally cannot be too down. If I stay open I'm delighted. If I close then I close despite a very brave fight by my customers and many local politicians.
"My customers though are very very concerned about the impact of the closure. So many need this place to stay open for their pensions and benefits and we have a lot of custom through people sending things by air mail.
"We also take much of the Maryhill overspill, where people tell me they queue for 45 minutes at a time. But right now we just don't know what the impact will be."
Ann McKechin, Labour MP for Glasgow North, said she would be very surprised if the four post offices in her area were all axed. She also criticised Post Office Ltd's timing, with the Maryhill office due to be relocated to a portable cabin for the foreseeable future while a new shopping centre is built. She said: "I'd be astonished if they all closed, especially given the volume of opposition.
"Post Watch claims this is one area of Glasgow where the closure system doesn't work. It will leave a massive hole in the network if they all did close. Put into the equation how profitable some of these offices are and you have to say Post office Ltd would be shooting itself in the foot if it did."
SNP MSP Sandra White made a last ditch attempt to appeal to Royal Mail to keep as many post offices open as possible. She said: "At this late hour I would hope Royal Mail have fully considered the devastation this will cause, for young mums, the elderly and small businesses and to assure it of further campaigns if they close."
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council, which has been vocal in its opposition, said: "We've made clear that post office closures are totally unacceptable and we hope Royal Mail has taken time to reflect on the impact on urban communities and rethink their plans."
A Post Office spokeswoman said: "The consultation period for Greater Glasgow, Central Scotland and Argyll and Bute closed December 3. All responses have been reviewed over the last few weeks. A decision booklet will be published early in January. At this stage we cannot confirm specific details for individual offices."
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