A tiny north-east village is once again able to send mail after the Post Office revealed today that a mobile service has been deployed in the community.
Rathen had been without Post Office services since the closure of its last office and the unavailability of an alternative premises or new post master.
The new service, called the Home Service, will provide people living in the rural community with access to products and services – including stamps, mail acceptance travel money and bill payments which can be delivered to their door during a designated delivery slot.
Local MSP Stewart Stevenson last night hailed the move by the mail provider.
He said: “Rathen Post Office closed some time ago and was a much-valued service within the community.
“This new service launched by the Post Office is the next best thing and will provide a lifeline service to Rathen, but particularly to those who may be elderly or inform, or who simply don’t have private transport to allow them to travel to their nearest Post Office.”
Deliveries to Rathen will be handled by operators in Turriff.
But Rathen councillor Ian Tait has questioned why Fraserburgh, the closest town to the village, was not the preferred option.
Mr Tait said: “Having the service for Rathen in Turriff is strange as Fraserburgh is much closer, so I cannot see this being very cost effective for the Post Office.
“Ideally, I would like to see the Post Office in Rathen reopened.”
The village’s post office closed in 2008 when the sub-postmaster resigned. It left villagers with no option but to go to either Inverallochy or St Combs for their nearest branch.