FIGHT TO SAVE POST OFFICE CONTINUES
BALLYGAWLEY COMMUNITY VOWS TO KEEP UP THE FIGHT TO SAVE P. O.
UPON entering the East Sligo town of Ballygawley, one is immediately met with ‘ Save our Post Office’ signs which line the roads taking you there.
Following weeks of campaigning to save the vital services of the post office, locals are keen to have their voice heard.
The post office in Ballygawley caters for a large area, due to the closure of many post offices in surrounding towns and villages.
The Community of Lough Arrow Social Project ( CLASP) transports dozens of elderly people to the post office each week to collect the old age pension. Areas such as Ballisodare and Collooney do have post offices, but campaigners claim a lack of suitable parking facilities means it would be difficult for the CLASP bus to bring elderly people to either of those.
If you turn right at the post office, the nearest one is in Ballyfarnon, Co. Roscommon.
The nearest post office straight ahead is Dromahair, Co. Leitrim and to the left is Sligo town.
A statement from CLASP, which was established in 1997, has warned that the closure of the post office would increase their annual costs.
“Over the last 20 years, we have worked in partnership with the community and statuary agencies in building up services in the area especially with older people encouraging them to remain living in their own homes.
“The catchment area we cover has already seen the closure of four post offices in the last five years – Ballintogher, Geevagh, Castlebaldwin and Keash and now the threatened closure of Ballygawley Post Office will be a significant loss to our community and people that use it.
“CLASP delivers a rural transport project on behalf of the National Transport Authority and we carry an average of 25 older people into Ballygawley every week for their old age pension. The closure of Ballygawley will again mean we will have to reorganise our services and increase our annual costs. Also, we would like to point out that Collooney Post Office is not a viable alternative as it does not have the necessary parking facilities in place, especially for our older clients with mobility issues.”
The statement added that elderly people should be able to collect and spend their money locally.
“Older people have a right to use their free travel pass, they have a right to collect their pension and spend their money in their local area where they have traditionally done. The McTiernan’s should have the opportunity to continue to provide the excellent service they have done over many years to the people of the area.
“The closure of Ballygawley P. O. will add to five the number closed in a 30 mile radius in the last five years which is disgraceful and one we will fight strongly to keep open. We have 400 older people who regularly use and are members of our services, we will be recommending strongly to them the importance of this issue and you can be sure we will develop strategies to lobby for the survival of Ballygawley Post Office and other services in our area.”
Local pensioner Mary Hamilton says the post office is vital to the local area, which is expanding and growing all the time.
“I’d like to say that it was a bit of a shock so soon after the loss of Colm McTiernan. Over the years it’s been so busy and providing such a valuable service to the area. The community is expanding all the time and we need this service, it’s essential.”
An emotional Ms. Hamilton said the community would be “devastated” if this crucial service was to be shut down.
“It’s a little hub, people come in here from a huge area because of all the post offices around that have been shut. It’s so vibrant. In all my years I have never heard any criticism of the post office. Older people put money in the back from here.”
Sandra Clarke, who runs the adjoining ‘ The Hair Station’, says her business benefits greatly from the post office.
“The post office is so important in our community. For businesses here, we thrive off one another. A lot of clients will come in to the shop on the CLASP bus, and then will come into me when they get their pensions or whatever. For bank lodgements and things like that it’s brilliant. We don’t have a bank here and it’s the only way people can get their money without having to go into town,” she added.
The support for their campaign is clear, but the need for the post office too is immediately evident when spending an hour or so there.
Thomas Walsh, Chairman of Ballygawley Development, said there is huge support behind the campaign ever since they learned it was under review.
“We’ve had a massive show of support since. We received 346 letters at the first gathering, then around 200 after the public meeting. We went to Sooey mass and around 200 signed up. People do need to use it more, and we’re always encouraging people to shop local. The state haven’t invested enough in rural areas. A post office has positive social and economic effects. It’s the heartbeat and centre of Ballygawley.
“Days after the burial of Colm, An Post got in contact with his wife Antoinette and said it was under review. It’s callous really and it’s being targeted,” he added.
An Post’s consultation period will continue until December 2nd, so the fight to save this service will continue until then, at the very least. Campaigning continued over the weekend, with approximately 99 letters signed in Geevagh, 92 in Ballintogher and 178 in Carraroe.
“We urge everyone, as the close of submission on 2nd December approaches to forward your letter of support to Mr Peter Gillespie, Retail Operations Manager, An Post, Wine Street, Sligo.
“Following close of submissions next week, we will be urgently requesting a meeting with An Post, senior management to meet a delegation from our campaign where we will outline the necessity for the retention of our Post- office,” added Mr. Walsh.