The public in Ballasalla wants its post office to stay as it is.

Malew and Santon MHK Jason Moorhouse said that message came over loud and clear at two public meetings, the latest of which took place on Friday.

The meetings were held in response to the news that Post Office bosses plan to close the counter service in the village and replace it with a self-service kiosk.

The Post Office has said the sub post office is not commercially viable and that residents can use Castletown instead. Consultation closes on Friday.

Mr Moorhouse said the turnout at the public meetings ’beat expectation and there was a real sense of frustration in the room’.

’It was clear the people were united again the possible changes,’ he said.

’The turnout, the quality of questions and the real passion in the room, really did reflect the genuine fear and strength of opinion in the village.

’The Ballasalla post office is a cornerstone of the community and the consultation is causing too much uncertainty and worry for some of our most vulnerable.’

Mr Moorhouse has written to post office chairman Julie Edge MHK urging her ’in the strongest terms to consider their fears’.

He said a ’huge number of constituents had contacted him on the issue, ’all concerned about the impact on the elderly, mentally ill and those in challenging relationships’. He added: ’Their concerns are real and we should be listening to them.’