Post Office Chairman hits out at 'untruths'

The chairman of the Island's Post Office has hit out at 'untruths in the media'.

MHK Julie Edge has released a statement, following the announcement of the upcoming closure of the Port St Mary post office.

Rushen MHKs Dr Michelle Haywood and Juan Watterson challenged the decision saying it wasn't 'in the national interest' and could have knock-on consequences for other retailers in the town.

Isle of Man Post Office announced the counter service, which is run from the newsagents, will close on 29th October after an unsuccessful two-week tender process.

Mr Watterson and Dr Haywood said while that's "disappointing", it's also "unsurprising" as the process was not open long enough.

Now, in the most recent update - the post office says it's re-opened the 'Request for Quotes' (RFQ) exercise for providing services in Port St Mary so it can fully explore a late expression of interest.

It adds: "Contrary to rumoured belief, the Board of IOMPO has always and continues to be committed to providing postal services where it is practical to do so, and where there is willing individuals/businesses to provide these on behalf of IOMPO. Last month IOMPO ran an RFQ exercise in Port St Mary, with a number of stakeholders advised from the outset including the General Election candidates for Rushen, Port St Mary Commissioners, the current and neighbouring sub postmasters and the National Federation of Sub Postmasters, yet no expression of interest in running the like-for-like service were received. Therefore the Board faced no alternative than to advise customers earlier this week that they would need to use the nearest available post office with effect from 1st November when the sub postmaster retires."

The extended RFQ will now run for a further two weeks to allow the late interested party to formally submit the relevant documentation, alongside allowing any other possible interested parties to come forward. 

The company has reiterated there is no guarantee a workable solution can be found at this stage.

 Chairman of IOMPO Julie Edge MHK, said: “There have been many untruths in the media about IOMPO and its Board in the past few days which have been disappointing to read. On behalf of the Board, I can honestly say that we do very much recognise the social value sub post offices provide in communities across the Island and where it is viable and there is interest to maintain services, we will endeavour to do this. However,  the reality is digital ways of transacting our daily business are superseding the need for face-to-face services, and therefore demand and interest in providing these is diminishing and it’s our role to respond accordingly and responsibly in line with our Retail Modernisation Strategy, (which includes ensuring that 96% of Island residents live within 3 miles of a service access point for postal services, with a postal service access point in each constituency), to this ever-increasing challenge.”