THE announcement of re-opening the Hardgate Post Office – but in Duntocher, has been welcomed by community leaders.

In February 2017, the previous branch closed, but the company are keen to restore the service to the area

It has been confirmed that a branch in SPAR, Dumbarton Road, Duntocher, will open on March 19 at 1pm.

MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has welcomed the news.

He said: “It’s great news that the communities of Duntocher, Hardgate and Faifley are set to finally have access again to the vital services that a local Post Office provides.

“I’ve been in regular contact with Post Office Ltd bosses about the pressing need to restore a branch in the area. These important local services have been greatly missed and residents and businesses have been very patient during this time.

“It’s clearly been a challenge for the Post Office to secure these new premises locally following the sudden closure of the former branch in Hardgate.

“Our thanks go to the Sadiq family for stepping forward and to all those who have worked hard to restore this much-needed Post Office service.”

Read more: Plans for Post Office to open in Duntocher next month

There will be new and longer opening hours – Monday to Friday: 8am-10pm, and Saturday: 9am-5pm.

Councillor Douglas McAllister also said he has been in regular contact with the Post Office since the closure of the Hardgate branch.

He added: "It’s great news for my local residents that the Post Office service has been restored because over the last three years the nearest Post Office was in Clydebank Shopping Centre.

"The new branch will offer the full Post Office service which is again great news and very welcome.

"I would encourage all of my constituents in Duntocher, Hardgate and Faifley to now please do enjoy using our new Post Office service.

"I also wish to take this opportunity of thanking Mr Jim Brown of Duntocher who is a local community activist in Duntocher and has previous Post Office experience who was of great assistance in bringing all parties together to enable the new branch to open, and can I also thank the Sadiq brothers, the owners of Spar Duntocher, for agreeing to provide the service to the people of Duntocher, Hardgate and Faifley."