An Post ‘hasn’t mind made up’ on the future of Ballydesmond office
AN POST SAID A DECISION WILL BE REACHED WITHIN TWO WEEKS OR SOONER
OFFICIALS from An Post who attended a meeting in Ballydesmond did so “but not with their minds made up” on the survival of a service in the village.
However, as Angus Laverty, the public affairs manager with An Post said, they will do so based on the four criteria set out in the consultation document which are the network coverage needs, level of business in the office, customer access to service elsewhere – travel distance, and capacity of neighbouring office to handle business if the office closes.
“We will listen very carefully to what you have to say and that will form part of our decision as to whether we re-advertise the contract or not,” he said.
When asked by Sean Kelleher, Chairman of the Ballydesmond Development Association whether or not, An Post would be in favour of keeping a PO open in the village, Mr Laverty said, he along with other officials who were attending the meeting were doing so “with an open mind.”
However, he did say, that the Post Office networks are under serve pressure. “We are struggling to keep it at the rate it’s at, and in many ways, a mixture of geography, economics, and history is closing Post offices. In many parts of the country, we’re the last man standing – the Garda station, the creamery, the filling station, and in many cases the shop.”
Mr Kelleher pointed out that Ballydesmond has been identified in the County Development Plan coupled with the National Development Plan as a “key rural village for the future.” He also pointed out the petition had gathered signatures from 400 householders.” He said it would be devastating to see the post office closed. “It’s not just for the older people but also the many young people who have built houses and made Ballydesmond their home in recent years,” he said.
Cllr Gerard Murphy (FG) said the Ballydesmond said Western Duhallow was having a difficult time with PO closing. “The post mistress in Ballydesmond is retiring, the Millstreet post mistress has retired and the Knocknagree post mistress is about to retire,” he said.
He pointed out Ballydesmond was a key village and “a key employment hub” for the region. He also said in correspondence with An Post in July, it stated that most viable post offices do survive if there’s a supermarket or shop which can accommodate it. “Ballydesmond has a very good case to make because it is a big employment centre and it has a suitable supermarket which is willing to take up on the contract.”
Deputy Michael Moynihan (FF) described the village as unique as there are whole lot of viable businesses along with huge employment and huge footfall.
He said the age profile of the Ballydesmond Development Association is young and they are people who have voted with their feet and have built houses in their community.
He said a very impressive document was put together by the Association on the village and they all clearly have pride in their village and community. Deputy Danny Healy Rae (Ind) questioned whether An Post “had their minds half made up” even before the meeting took place. “We understand that the Kearney family have shown an interest in taking over the Post Office if it is tendered out, and we also understand that there are others interested, but I am wondering if you have your minds half made up about what’s going to happen before you came down here,” he said. He said he was pleading with An Post to offer the tender and to give the local people a chance to retain their post office.
Mr Laverty said: “The formal process in coming to a decision ended last Friday, but this meeting will be taken into account as part of that – normally, we would factor in a couple of weeks to make a decision.”
He also said An Post did not have “a set policy” in relation to PO and whether they are “stand alone or co-located with a shop or a local business.”
“It depends very much on local circumstances, on the local contractor and the proposals they come to us with. It is true that as time goes on, co-located premises are becoming more attractive because they are attractive for the contractor,” he said.
He was clear that if An Post decides to re-advertise the contract in Ballydesmond – then people will be entitled to apply for it.
“Interest and viability are two separate thing, people may express an interest but a later stage viability might be a stumbling block,” he said.
He also said he wanted to stress to Deputy Healy Rae, that they had not come to Ballydesmond with their minds “half made up.”
“This is an honest process, an honest meeting and we will take away what you have said here tonight and it will be an honest decision,” he said.
On Wednesday, Mr Laverty told The Corkman that it is hoped that a decision will be reached “within the next two weeks but it could also be reached shorter than that.”
The Corkman also spoke to Seamus Kearney who is very interested in taking on a tender - should one be offered by An Post.
On Wednesday, he also told The Corkman that it is “very important” that a village should have a post office service for their community.