Rushen’s newly elected MHKs have heavily criticised the Post Office board after it was revealed that Port St Mary will lose its postal counter service at the end of the month.
The Post Office announced earlier this week that the service would cease in the village on November 1 after it ’received no expressions of interest’ to run it after current sub-postmaster Jeff Calvert had given ’notice of termination on his contract’.
Reacting to the news in a joint statement, Juan Watterson and Dr Michelle Haywood said: ’It was disappointing that there were no responses to the Post Office’s invitation to tender for counter services.
’However, the tender process was only open for two weeks, so it was hardly surprising.
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’It appears to us that this was just held over until after the election to deflect a public backlash.
’A sensible length of time advertising the service would have allowed other possible businesses to come forward.
’This whole situation has been driven by the Post Office procedures for dealing with a sub-postmaster retirement, and not by the needs or wishes of the community that this Post Office serves.
’The persistent failure of the Post Office Board to recognise the community value of having town Post Offices, whilst returning over £1.6 million profits shows that the Post Office no longer acts in the national interest.’
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Current sub postmaster Mr Calvert had already extended his contract for services until the end of this month after originally giving notice to terminate his contract in July 2020.
Mr Watterson and Dr Haywood added: ’We wish to be clear that there can be no criticism of the incumbent, the Calverts, who have stayed open and gone above and beyond the requirements of the Post Office despite the ongoing uncertainty that has continually come from Douglas HQ.
’It is clear that despite many Tynwald debates, the Board of the Post Office cannot see the social value that is being thrown away.
’We know that Port Erin Post Office is a friendly and well-managed operation, but we fear that the loss of this key asset from Port St Mary will have very foreseeable knock on consequences for footfall and remaining retailers.
’As such, we will be lobbying Chief Minister candidates, and looking to speak to the new Enterprise Minister and Post Office chairman on this subject as soon as they are appointed.’
Mr Calvert was keen to stress the withdrawal of the Post Office counter would not mean the closure of his Bay View Road newsagents which it sits within. He said: ’The Examiner Shop, as it is fondly known locally, will continue to provide all the other services which it currently provides to customers irrespective of the outcome surrounding the Post Office counter.
’It’s business as usual for us.’
Treasury’s social security department will shortly write to MiCard customers currently collecting their benefits and pension in cash from Port St Mary, allowing them to change to an alternative post office.