Perceiving the post office as the provider of community services ’needs to be kept in context’, its chairman has insisted.

Julie Edge has responded to Malew Commissioners’ letter to her and that sent to Mr Quayle with objections to the planned closure of the counter service in Ballasalla, to be replaced with a self-service kiosk.

The proposal was announced in December and provoked widespread condemnation from residents and politicians.

In her response, Ms Edge said: ’Government provides a huge range of services directly to the community ... charities are out delivering those services with numerous community groups toreach isolated people.’

She added: ’I reference this to provide a little balance to concerns raised regarding the perceived social impact.

’However, please do not mistake this as the board devolving all responsibility for its social value.’

She said the board had ’listened to the consultation feedback’ and acted upon it by extending the services it will seek to retain to ’include an innovative face-to-face information and advice service, together with a parcel collection facility’.

Malew Commissioners wrote to Chief Minister Howard Quayle requesting he conduct ’an urgent review’ of the Post Office’s ’blinkered concentration on shutting the services down’.

The Municipal Association also waded into the argument with concerns that other sub-post offices will go.

Ms Edge said Tynwald approved the Isle of Man Post Office demand-driven retail modernisation strategy.’

And she said the board was obligated ’to provide financially and socially responsible services with respect to ... the conveyance of letters.’

Pensions and benefits would have to be paid into recipients’ bank account or cashed in at another post office.

Ms Edge said this would require no travel and therefore reduce the carbon footprint.

Ms Edge said there will be ’an open and transparent tender for the services it is seeking to retain’ and the objective is to have no break in service when the current sub post master leaves on April 9.