Post Office details proposed franchise plans for third tranche of last remaining 108 Directly Managed Branches

The Post Office has today (25 June) provided details on its proposed franchise plans for the third tranche of the last remaining 108 Directly Managed Branches which are operated by the Post Office.

As part of its commitment to deliver a ‘New Deal for Postmasters’, the Post Office had previously announced on 8 April that it was moving to a fully franchised network.

On Wednesday 28 May, the Post Office published details for the first tranche of the last remaining Directly Managed Branches. One Wednesday 4 June, the Post Office published details for the second tranche.

It is proposed that one Directly Managed Branch, Wester Hailes Post Office (Edinburgh) relocate to a new, nearby location in the same shopping centre.

Consultation begins today for Wester Hailes Post Office to relocate to Plaza News, Unit 23-26 Westside Plaza, Wester Hailes EH14 2SW. Subject to consultation the relocation would take place in September. Wester Hailes Post Office is currently on the ground floor. The proposed relocation site is on the first floor, but it is easily accessible by lift, escalator and stairs. The same spacious car park is available for customers, offering four hours of free parking.

The well-established newsagents and convenience store where it is proposed that Wester Hailes Post Office will relocate to is owned by father and son, Mohammed and Aamir Arshad. They are experienced at running a Post Office as they previously ran Whitecraig Post Office near Mussleburgh.

In line with Post Office’s Principles of Community Engagement customer notification posters will arrive at the branch to be displayed and local stakeholders are being informed of the proposed plans for the branch. Further details relating to the remaining Directly Managed Branches will be announced in tranches over the coming weeks.

A Post Office spokesperson said:

“Moving to a fully franchised network is one part of enabling the Post Office to deliver a ‘New Deal for Postmasters’. Over 99% of the Post Office network is already successfully operated on a franchise basis by carefully selected retail partners. We are confident this will create a long-term, sustainable future for post offices in communities across the UK, including Wester Hailes.”

Proposed third tranche franchise plans for Directly Managed Branches

Mohammed and Aamir Arshad

Mohammed Arshad has operated a number of convenience stores across various areas of Edinburgh. In 2010, Mohammed and his wife took on Whitecraig Post Office and off-licence store. Their son, Aamir, was just 19 years old making him one of the youngest Postmasters in Scotland. They extended and refurbished the premises and doubled the takeover within the first few months and ran this Post Office for six years.

In 2016 the family moved to Wester Hailes and took on Plaza News, which is a well-run shop. It then moved to larger premises within the Westside Plaza Shopping Centre in 2020.