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Rushen MHK's accuse Post Office Board of "Persistent Failures"

Wed, 06 Oct 2021

The closure of Port St Mary Post Office at the end of this month has sparked an angry reaction from the areas MHK’s.

Dr Michelle Haywood and Juan Watterson have issued a joint statement where they accuse the Post Office Board of persistent failures in recognising the value of town Post Offices. They say that the decisions have been driven by internal procedures and not by the needs of the community.

The statement goes on to say that while the Post Office has returned a profit of over £1.6 million, it shows that "they are no longer acting in the national interest".

Dr Haywood and Mr Watterson told Energy FM News that they are now lobbying the Chief Minister candidates over the issue.

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The full statement from Michell Haywood MHK and Juan Watterson SHK is as follows:

Rushen MHKs Juan Watterson and Michelle Haywood have responded to news that PSM Post Office Counter Service is to close on October 29th.

It was disappointing that there were no responses to the Post Office’s invitation to tender for counter services. However, the tender process was only open for two weeks, so it was hardly surprising. It appears to us that this was just held over until after the election to deflect a public backlash. A sensible length of time advertising the service would have allowed other possible businesses to come forward. This whole situation has been driven by the Post Office procedures for dealing with a sub-postmaster retirement, and not by the needs or wishes of the community that this Post Office serves.  The persistent failure of the Post Office Board to recognise the community value of having town Post Offices, whilst returning over £1.6 million profits shows that the Post Office no longer acts in the national interest.

We wish to be clear that there can be no criticism of the incumbent, the Calverts who have stayed open and gone above and beyond the requirements of the Post Office despite the ongoing uncertainty that has continually come from Douglas HQ. It is clear that despite many Tynwald debates, the Board of the Post Office cannot see the social value that is being thrown away by giving notice to the Calverts to terminate their contract rather than working with them flexibly to maintain services. We know that Port Erin Post Office is a friendly and well-managed operation, but we fear that the loss of this key asset from Port St Mary will have very foreseeable knock on consequences for footfall and remaining retailers.  As such, we will be lobbying Chief Minister candidates, and looking to speak to the new Enterprise Minister and Post Office Chairman on this subject as soon as they are appointed.

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