PLAN TO MOVE POST OFFICE TO BOGHALL FAILS

PLANS TO MOVE Ballywaltrim post office to Centra on the Boghall have fallen through.

Deputy John Brady said that he has confirmed the matter with senior management at An Post.

The postmistress at the existing post office has agreed to stay on until another premises is ready to operate.

The tender fell through as An Post encountered issues involving licencing.

The new post office would have been located on part of the existing off-licence, albeit completely separated from that part of the business.

‘ Their intention was to split the off-licence,’ said Deputy Brady. ‘But the licence was for the entire area and that would mean having to de-licence it, which proved problematic.’

An Post have re-advertised and have said that the location is specific to the Ballywaltrim area.

There were other interested parties in the process during the first round. The tendering process will be available to them and also others.

The reason for the tendering process is the forthcoming retirement of the postmistresses.

There had been some concerns regarding parking and traffic around the Boghall Stores centre previously allocated for the new post office.