Allanton gets new store and replacement post office

A new Premier store has been opened in Allanton, Shotts, North Lanarkshire., with a post office in place of the branch previously operated and closed by SPAR wholesaler CJ Lang.

The brand-new convenience store on Scotland’s second busiest A road officially opened on 4 March by local MP Anum Qaisar, MSP Neil Gray and residents.

Allanton Post Office is the first, permanent, like-for-like replacement for a branch previously operated by CJ Lang who announced last summer their decision to close 31 post office counters in their stores.

Post Office said it has secured permanent and temporary services for the majority of these communities, with the remaining areas being served by local post offices. The next permanent, like-for like replacement launches in April in Balintore, Ross-shire with further replacements to be announced in the coming weeks.

Allanton Post Office will operate six days a week, providing the local community with access to cash and banking services, alongside bill payment, shopping returns, parcel pick-up and other mails services.

The store sells locally sourced meat products, fresh cakes and ready meals. It also has an ice-cream and milk shake counter with on-site café opening shortly. Accessibility for elderly or disabled customers has also been improved as the new location has an onsite car park.

Postmaster, Omar Nasir, who already operates Motherwell Post Office, has taken on this new branch. Lee and Demi Bannatyne, from Allanton, are running the business and café on a day-to-day basis with their extended family.

Nasir said: “This shop and post office are ideally located for residents, businesses and passing trade. We are on the A71 – the second busiest A road in Scotland with lots of passing traffic. We are very fortunate to have plenty of parking, so the post office is in a more convenient location than before and people can easily pop in for the Post Office, groceries and a takeaway.

“We have lots of elderly people in the village and not all have cars, so it is essential to have a post office here. People can also do all their banking and we are open longer hours too. We have been busy from the start and each day we are getting busier as people hear what we have to offer.”

Martin Roberts, group chief retail officer at Post Office, added: “this brand-new post office in allanton demonstrates the many benefits a post Office provides local residents, businesses and the wider community. Our strategy is to continue to work closely with independent postmasters, as well as our retail partners, to deliver innovative propositions that drive footfall to their stores and leads to commercial growth for our businesses.The convenience sector is key for us.”