Malew Commissioners have branded a consultation on the Isle of Man Post Office’s five-year strategy as pointless and a ’waste of time’.

In a public meeting held on Wednesday, the Ballasalla-based board considered whether it should respond to the consultation document, and voiced strong reservations about the process.

Commissioners called the consultation a ’box-ticking exercise’ which had come far too late to have any impact.

The public consultation ended on Tuesday but local authorities have until October 16 to submit a response.

The Post Office has already announced it will make changes to its services, with plans to cut costs and make changes to pension schemes.

As a result, as the Isle of Man Examiner reported this week, workers voted to ballot on possible industrial action at an emergency union meeting over the weekend.

Commissioner Janice Knighton said the Post Office board had ’no clue what they’re doing’, with Margarent Mansfield adding the authority had to respond and challenge this ’biased’ document.

Members voted to submit a letter expressing these views and concerns.