Langholm welcomes post office hours
It will be open almost an extra 50 hours a week.
Last updated 21st Apr 2025
Langholm locals are looking forward to welcoming a high street shop taking on the post office permanently.
The Paper Shop will be keeping the service open for almost an extra 50 hours a week from May 13 onwards.
As it stands, the current part-time branch is only open for a few hours at the town hall.
This is also a limited service which means anyone in the Muckle Toon wanting to buy a stamp or post a parcel has to travel to Canonbie, but those who rely on public transport have lengthy waits.
One local says, “The buses are an absolute nightmare, that’s the problem. If you only want to post a parcel at Canonbie, that’s a two-hour wait. If you’re not doing anything else there, then it’s a long time to be waiting on the bus home.
“It’s needed; it’s definitely needed. It’s just crazy having to go to Canonbie for a post office. For the number of people who live in Langholm, why have they not already got a post office?”
Another agrees, “At the moment, you can’t buy a postage stamp in the town apart from one and a half days a week, it’s silly little things like that. If you want to post a parcel, you’ve got to wait for the appropriate day or go down to Canonbie or further away. I think once the post office is there at the shop, lots of people will use it.”
The community believes this will be a turning point for the town and will encourage more people such as visitors to shop locally.
“Hopefully, it will increase footfall on the high street. We’ve had a temporary post office for a day and half a week in the town hall, but that’s not as convenient for people. Our other alternative has been the post office at Canonbie, but that’s either a bus or car ride away.
“It’s the knock-on effect of having people coming into town. They might only be buying a stamp but if they see something they like in the pet shop window next door or pop into one of the cafes, then it’s all extra footfall for the town.
“We need local, local is key”.
Elizabeth Wilson, who is taking over, says, "We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Post Office to bring this resource to Langholm.
"We have been supported throughout the process by the great team at Post Office Opportunities. However, it is the support of our staff and people and businesses of Langholm that has really motivated us.
"As a business, we have used all our local post offices, but to have one once again in Langholm seemed to make perfect sense for us. Hopefully, it will give the people and visitors in Langholm access to a range of services that they would have had to otherwise make a 30-minute round trip to access.
"In reality, it will save thousands of car miles every year. As things proceed, we will try to offer as many of the services that local people ask for, after all, the purpose of a post office is to serve the local community.
"We hope to see as many people as possible on May 13th for the opening."