The Post Office on the Whitesands in Dumfries is set to close this autumn.
A question mark has been hanging over the future of the facility since the Spar, which operates the service, revealed that it would not be renewing the lease when it ends in October.
A Post Office spokesperson said: “Dumfries Post Office will be closing at its current location this autumn due to the resignation of the operator.
“The date is being finalised. We know how important a Post Office is to a community. We are working hard to maintain service. We are in talks with one retailer and the vacancy is also advertised on www.runapostoffice.co.uk.”
The closure confirmation has led to calls for action to save the facility. The SNP’s South Scotland MSP Emma Harper said: “I have contacted the Post Office national leadership to request an extension to their deadline for encouraging bidders to take on the post office at this site, which is a critical service for my constituents.
“Having a Post Office in the community is important for so many of my constituents, particularly those who are older or people who can’t travel easily.
“Residents here use the Post Office for a variety of its services including posting letters and parcels and those who are not online also rely on it for access to their Post Office accounts,
pension and finances.
“I will keep constituents updated with any response I receive.”
This latest closure will follow in the footsteps of other Post Office locations throughout the region.
Labour’s South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: “There have been rumours for some time over the future of this Post Office, so few people will be surprised at this news, but that doesn’t make it any less disappointing.
“This branch closing would be the latest blow for businesses and residents who rely on their local Post Office service but I fear it won’t be the last. In the past year we’ve seen closures, reduced hours and temporary services affecting communities across the region and it’s not good enough.
“People need Post Offices in their local communities but more and more we’re seeing them disappearing. For the largest town in our region not to have a Post Office in the town centre would be the ultimate failure by Post Office and we need to do all we can to avoid what would be another blow to our
town centre.”
