I am not sure what to make of all the palaver about the sub-post office moving from the Trading Post site to Engy’s filling station. Sure, it will be less handy for a few people in Manor Park and the toffs in Stewart Drive and Matheson Road.
But it will be much better for almost EVERYONE in Parkend, Melbost, Plasterfield, Steinish and the whole of Point. Engy’s is even on their bus route. That’ll be perfect of the old and infirm. Maybe these people don’t matter to our more-vocal community reps. Yet we haven’t heard anyone yet welcoming the move on behalf of all Rudhachs, for example.
Could the unmentioned fact that the new post office will be open for a lot longer – including, er, wait for it, Sundays – be a very relevant factor for those who have already come out screaming in protest and who already boycott Engy’s at Sandwick Road for daring to be of service to people seven days a week? I think they should be honest and come clean on the real reasons for their daft objections.
Great call.
Would greatly benefit alot more people
They may be re-locating to premises that are open seven days a week, but I don’t think Post Office Counters are open on a Sunday (or Saturday afternoon for that matter). Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Although I find the Bayhead facility very convenient (parking etc) I have no issue with them moving to Sandwick Road provided the helpful and cheerful staff move down there too.
As for filling up the tank while I’m in for a few stamps…..FORGET IT!!!!
I wonder if all the people that boycott Engy’s on a Sunday follow through on their convictions and boycott other shops like the Co-op and Tesco that have branches that open on a Sunday? Or what about all the mainland shops when they nip to inverness for their Christmas shopping? They are all open on a Sunday. Do then boycott them?? I think not!
“… including, er, wait for it, Sundays … ”
THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN, SPAWN OF SATAN.
Sounds like a ploy to drag some much needed custom back into Engies!! Be a shame to see the PO relocate, but the girls are great so I’ll still buy from them. Anything to avoid the main town post office with it’s slow service and patronising staff!
Come to think of it, I might just use the PO at Back whilst I’m over for fuel
Not sure where you get the idea that Point needs a Post-Office; I think there is already provision there? They certainly wouldn’t need to use Engies, having already made the trek into town. As for Sunday “convictions”; the whole thing is, pardon my expression, a “croc”. Tescos staff are in on a Sunday night stocking shelves, Shonnie Beag in the County has his own bizarre interpretation, opening when there is “justification”. TalkTalk work a seven day week with the full backing of the local council and HIE (yet they refuse to provide a bus service). Hotels, pubs, taxis all work Sunday.
Good on Engie for breaking the ‘mould’ when he did.
Now can he answer the REAL question…..why isn’t he open till 11pm on a Sunday?
The sooner one of the Stornoway supermarkets opens 24/7, the better. So many islanders do not work 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. Crofters, the tourist industry, fishermen, to name three major demographics of workers on these islands. Plus utility companies, ambulance and police crews, the medical sector, to name but a few.
It’s about time, overdue, that people had essential services – I’d call the availability of food an essential service – that they could use, irrespective of the hours and days that they worked. If a minority of people don’t want to use these services, because they are afraid that some bloke on a white fluffy cloud is going to be annoyed with them, or because an interpretation of an ambiguous line in an old “book” of dubious origin tells them they should not, they are perfectly entitled not to use those services.
But it’s frankly absolutely none of their interfering, unwelcome, patronising, oppressing and unwanted business whether the rest of us use it or not.
@Minister McAngry
If Tesco thought for a minute that it would make commercial sense for them to be open 24/7 they would do it. They do not give a toss about “some bloke on a white fluffy cloud” but neither do they give a toss about workers in tourism, the fishing industry or any of the others you mention.
By the way I dont remember anyone criticising them on here for closing early on public holidays or closing at Christmas and New Year – do our “utility companies, ambulance and police crews, the medical sector, to name but a few.” and indeed everyone else not require essential food services on these days also
@ Mr Scot Nat Mcangry
How much time do you want in a supermarket ?
You already have 8-10 …six days a week …..84 hours why do you need any more ?
You seem to mistake convenience with salary/ability to pay.
None of us want to go to a supermarket on a week day so why do we need an extra day?.
We go out of neccessity with a fixed amount which we can afford .
84 hours is more than enough for anyone.
The CO-OP & TESCO should be applauded by our community for sticking with 6 day service !
@Donnie FootInMouth
Did it ever occur to you that some weeks, some residents may only have the Sunday in which to shop because they are working for a living? No, obviously not, in your unrealistic bubble-view of the world.
A business should be “applauded” for restricting convenience? I bet if e.g. your bank restricted access to your money, your utilities restricted access to the things they provide, or your partner (if you have one) restricted access to “conjugal rights”, you wouldn’t be applauding…
What about the Sports centre in Stornoway and the golf club being open on sundays.
The Golf course and the Sports Centre remaining closed are the two remaining pillars upon which ‘faith’ in the islands rests. A religion which hangs its tenets on whether folk swing a club or go for a swim on their ‘holy day’ is treading perilously indeed. Most ‘sensible’ Christians don’t see there being an issue. Unfortunately, they cannot be seen to show any kind of support, be it passive or active. Don’t expect change any time soon. The Trust have built a new mountain cycle track around the golf course which will, doubtless, be utilised on a Sunday. Will they restrict access and ‘police’ it?
Supermarkets are open 6am-12pm BTW.
Access to ‘conjugal rights’ are always ‘restricted’ unless you are married to a nymphomaniac. Any fule no dat.
So….I ask again…Why is Engies closed at 4pm on a Sunday?
Who is behind this move – the Post Office or Engie’s? Rumours vary. I certainly cannot see the PO maintaing 2 offices within a few hundred yards of each other. If I worked in the Francis Street office I would be rather concerned about my job.