The Gallowgate sub post office, run by Drew and Ann Harvey, closes for the last time today (Friday), to be followed on Saturday by the accompanying newsagent as the Harvies retire after 38 years in the business.

On top of that, three of the island's remaining facilities - at the Watergate in Rothesay, in Ardbeg and in Port Bannatyne, have been put up for sale.

But all three selling postmasters are adamant that the future for the island's postal facilities is brighter than it might at first appear, with Brian Caird, who co-owns the main Rothesay post office, on the corner of Watergate and Albert Place, telling us that the Post Office's recent announcement on its closure plans had actually brought stability to the situation.

"With Gallowgate closing we will be a little more busy than we have been," Brian told us, "but not nearly as busy as the old days when we had to cope with pension queues.

"But we are certainly still very viable - as long as there are still people coming through the door we can make a living.

"Gordon Peacock and I have run this office since 1989 and we decided to put it on the market once we knew its future was secure.

"We had always planned to retire this year but everything has been on hold. Someone with new ideas could certainly make more from the retail side of the operation than we have, because it is a really good business."

An additional counter position has been provided at the Watergate facility to take account of the expected increase in business once the Gallowgate post office closes.

"People won't really notice any difference except perhaps on Mondays," Brian continued.

"None of the councillors who complained that it would lead to problems actually bothered to come and discuss it with us."

Brian's colleague in Port Bannatyne, sub-postmaster Donnie MacLeod, is also hoping to sell his business and enjoy a well earned retirement.

"The idea of closing post offices is to spread the business around the remaining ones," Donnie told us.

"With Gallowgate closing people will go elsewhere and we will all benefit.

"The Post Office is working to make us more like banks, with cash machines, foreign currency exchange and insurance.

"The Port Banntyne office has lots of potential with the marina development - the village has been slumbering for a long time but new arrivals are waking things up.

"If I was ten years younger I would be expanding the retail side, because although the post office is changing the retail aspect will always be there."

Alastair Tough, the man in charge at the sub post office in Ardbeg, also plans to retire, and told us there was no hidden motive in the three facilities being up for sale at the same time.

"I have been on the island for 38 years," he said, "and during that time I have beeen involved in looking after islanders' finances in the estate agency and insurance business, as well as the Ardbeg office.

"At the moment the Post Office is mounting a massive TV campaign, and innovations such as cash machines are bringing more people through our doors.

"There is nothing sinister in the three businesses being up for sale - we are all at retiral time, but we had to hang fire until we knew which offices would be earmarked for closure.

"It's just a bit like 'stop the world, I want to get off'."

Meanwhile, Drew Harvey, whose Gallowgate office is closing, sounded rueful at the manner of his and Ann's departure this weekend.

"I am disappointed in the way in which Ann and I and are having to retire," he admitted.

"It is being forced on us, however after 38 years here, the time has come to go.

"I have seen the business slowly declining, with the loss of TV licensing and other services. The other three post masters are in their sixties so they are ready to come out of it."