Bonnyrigg is a town of approximately 18,000 people. Midlothian is growing fast and Bonnyrigg growing most of all. The Local Development Plan, adopted in 2017, has house sites approved for an extra nearly 2000 homes. Our High Street has a limited selection of shops. We have only one Bank left and it has an unstaffed counter. ATMs for paying in cheques. Losing the Post Office for the old and those without cars is a disaster and indeed it is a problem for small business owners as well as everyone else (most of us) who shop by mail and need to return items. The Bonnyrigg Co-op is the main supermarket and has an adequate carpark. We don't even have out-of-centre shopping to any extent.
The Post Office is calling this a Temporary Closure but have been unable so far to find anyone who can take it on. We do not see any other shops that have the capacity to take on this role other than the Co-op. Indeed, if the Co-op is serious about its stated philosophy of being about serving the needs of its customers this is a moment that you can demonstrate that commitment.
I attach the information we have been sent by the Post Office regarding their position. We have been well served by our local Post Office staff and it is upsetting that they are being made redundant. It is well understood the Post Office would like to find other premises in Bonnyrigg.
I would also draw to your attention that the layout in the Co-op is not ideal and needs some alteration as the design of it above all allows the shoplifting reported each month to the Community Council in the Police Report. In the last couple of months the standard shoplifting issue has been exacerbated by the stealing of alcohol by underage youths. This is unacceptable to the community and could ultimately become a licensing issue. Of course our ideal solution would be for a rearrangement of the shop to include both a Post Office and a new layout that allowed the Coop staff to regulate customer traffic more effectively.
The Community Council would be happy to meet with you to discuss these concerns if that would be helpful as we hope we can work together on this.
Bonnyrigg & Lasswade really do value our Co-op and its ever helpful and friendly staff.
Yours sincerely,
Chairman
Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council