The owners of an Angus salmon fishery have claimed the closure of a post office could badly affect trade this Christmas.
david Pullar of Usan Salmon Fisheries was speaking following a visit from a contingent of Angus SNP representatives to his business, which provides wild salmon to the export market.
Mike Weir MP joined Nigel Don MSP and Montrose councillor Paul Valentine to meet David and his brother George for a tour of the premises.
The closure of the nearby Ferryden Post Office means the firm must now travel to either Montrose or Arbroath to send out orders, which could prove difficult when trying to get freshly caught fish dispatched on time.
David Pullar said, “In the run-up to Christmas we export smoked salmon all over Europe and our orders have to be away before 1pm. Now, because Ferryden has shut down, we have to go to the so-called main office in Montrose.
“I could go and stand there for half an hour just to get them away and it is not always possible to do that. It would probably be as quick for me to drive all the way to Arbroath and wait in the queue there.”
Mr Pullar said the festive rush accounts for up to 90% of his deliveries and any delay could have a major impact.
Mr Weir said the concerns raised reflect problems many businesses’ experience.
“The simple fact is that such businesses do not have ready access to the deals offered by alternative carriers to large business and rely on the Post Office and Royal Mail,” he said.
“I will be taking the matter up further with the Post Office as they try to put in place an alternative service for the village.”
Mr Don said he was “delighted” to visit the operation and view a shed built with Scottish Government assistance.
He added, “It is good to see such traditional industries doing well and continuing to seek expansion and new markets.”
Usan Salmon Fisheries was established in the 1960s and is one of the last salmon companies in Scotland, operating netting stations along the coast from Montrose to Arbroath.