Frustrations grow as post office future remains unclear

THE Ballygawley Post Office Action Group has accused An Post of contempt towards rural Ireland and local communities.

The accusations come as the action group has been left in limbo waiting for a response from An Post in relation to the future of the post office.

The campaign to save the post office has been ongoing since November, when it became apparent that the service was under threat.

Members of the Action Group claim they were told to expect an answer around the third week of January, but they are still lying in wait for a response.

Campaign co- ordinator Thomas Walsh, told The Sligo Champion that he has made contact with representatives of An Post dozens of times, but is yet to receive an answer.

“If we are waiting much longer we will make contact with An Post formally, seeking an immediate answer on the future of the post office,” he told The Sligo Champion.

“A mass demonstration on O’Connell Street is being considered as we look to take further action,” he added.

Mr. Walsh says that at a meeting between the action group and the An Post representatives earlier in the year, they were informed that they would have an answer by the third week of January at the latest.

“I would say approximately 30 calls have been made to An Post since that. We feel as if we are being fobbed off all the time,” added Mr. Walsh.

He confirmed that the acting postmistress in Ballygawley has not received any update either.

“It’s just awful bad form. I hope that this isn’t their means of quelling the campaign before giving us our answer because we won’t be going quiet. I hope that they won’t keep dragging it out in the hope that the campaign will quieten down,” added Mr. Walsh.

“My phone is going every single day with people asking if I’ve heard anything yet, between locals, elderly people, businesses and more.”

A further meeting of the action group will take place in the coming days, while it is hoped that the issue will be addressed very shortly.