An East Renfrewshire Post Office has closed for the third time in seven years. 

It is understood Clarkston Post Office shut down after the resignation of the postmaster on Saturday.

The removal of services means local residents will be without a functioning Post Office.

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With the nearest alternative postal services located at Netherlee Post Office on Clarkston Road and the Fenwick Road Post Office in Giffnock, Jackson Carlaw, MSP for Eastwood, has said that it is a "blow" for the residents.

The Eaglesham Road branch previously closed in September 2020 before services were reinstated in December of that year.

And the local area was also without a functioning Post Office for over a year before postal services returned in the early part of 2018.

MSP Carlaw has made urgent representation to the Post Office to express concerns about the late notification of the closure and to highlight the importance of a prompt restoration of postal services in the local area.

He said: “To only confirm the closure of the postal branch at Sheddens on the day before services would be withdrawn is deeply dissatisfactory and I have made my views on this situation known to the Post Office.

“The closure of the Clarkston Post Office will be a major blow for residents who need access to a functioning postal branch and there needs to be a concerted effort to quickly return services to Sheddens.

“Eastwood has continually suffered from damaging Post Office closures including in Eaglesham, at the Broomburn Shops, the Avenue Shopping Centre and now again at Sheddens.

“Services at Sheddens must be brought back quickly to avoid a repeat of what has happened in Eaglesham and Newton Mearns where temporary closures have in effect become permanent because of a failure to establish replacement branches in the local areas.

“In my representation to the Post Office, I have stressed that restoring postal services at Sheddens must be an urgent priority.”

A Post Office spokesperson said: “The Postmaster for Clarkston, who had been operating on a temporary basis, resigned and the branch closed on Saturday (27/1).

“We apologise that we were unable to give customers advance notice and for any inconvenience caused.

"We are working hard to keep any period of closure to a minimum and we are currently investigating the options available which could enable us to reinstate a Post Office service to the local community.

“In the meantime, alternative branches include Netherlee, Fenwick Road and Cathcart.”