The National Federation of Sub Postmasters has expressed concern over the future viability of the island’s sub-post office network.

Those concerns were raised as it was announced that Pulrose post office will close next month, some six months after the closure of the Crosby Terrace branch in Douglas.

The majority of the existing network of sub offices are privately owned.

With the government promoting a digital strategy, a number of services are in decline or under threat and businesses are struggling to keep Post Office counters viable, with offices closing rather than being sold on.

News that Santander UK’s contract with the Post Office for the processing of customers’ deposits and withdrawals at sub post offices has been terminated from April 22, will add to that pressure.

The move came following a failure to agree appropriate levels of commission.

But the Federation said the biggest threat to the local network will come if the Manx government follows the UK and scraps the need to display physical tax discs on vehicles.

Legislation changes are already made to allow this and it will be down to a vote in Tynwald to decide whether or not to follow the UK.

John Smith, NFSP representative for the Isle of Man, said: ’Before making the decision both Tynwald members and the public need to be made aware of the full ramifications of such a decision.’

With the Post Office not due to present its strategy to Tynwald until October, Mr Smith believes it is of vital importance that the decision on scrapping physical tax discs is delayed until a select committee can properly study the financial and social impact.

NFSP chief executive Calum Greenhow said scrapping the discs in the UK has resulted in the post office network seeing income fall by about £4m and a loss to the UK public purse of £400m in the first year.

Over the two years since there had been a 270% rise in the number of untaxed vehicles from 210,000 to 560,000.

Isle of Man Post Office expect that at least 40% of offices in the existing network would no longer be viable if the same decision is taken here.

This would have a significant social impact on our local communities, said the NFSP.

’The Post Office network provides a lifeline to vulnerable members of the public and there is a significant social and financial cost to reducing that network,’ a spokesman said.

’If the DoI are allowed to scrap vehicle tax discs without due consideration to the island as a whole the sub post office network will be compromised.’