Garff commissioners are asking residents to submit their views on the future of the postal service in the area.

The local authority fears any further loss to the area’s postal provision as a result of the new Post Office strategy, approved by Tynwald last month.

Deputy clerk of the commissioners Martin Royle said the board ’believe that any reduction of post office counter services in Laxey would impact very heavily on the village community’. He added: ’It is the view of Garff Commissioners that post offices are an essential social and business hub that are vital to the well-being of the communities they serve.

’The commission has resolved to write to the Post Office board and to government to express their concerns in regard to the reduction of postal services in Garff.’

The board also wants further clarification on the intentions of the Post Office board in regards to Laxey’s post office.

The post office in Laxey is one of only two, along with the one in Onchan, between Strand Street in Douglas and Ramsey.

There are no counter services provided in areas such as Dhoon and Maughold.

The new Post Office strategy sets out six guiding principles to turn around the loss-making service.

The demand-driven core of the plans was labelled ’code for managed decline’ by Douglas East MHK Chris Robertshaw.

The Post Office must:

â?¢ Remain financially efficient, supporting the overall aim of remaining financially self-sustaining;

â?¢Ensure 96% of island residents live within three miles of a service access point for postal services, with a postal service access point in each constituency;

â?¢Ensure postal service access points are accessible;

â?¢Where financially viable, continue to seek opportunities to provide new retail services;

â?¢Innovate and improve how postal services are provided, in ways that satisfy the changing needs of its customers;

â?¢Adopt a formal consultation process before changing a service method or removing a service access point.

Residents are asked to submit their views to the commissioners via [email protected] or on Facebook Messenger.