The Isle of Man Post office has no plans to replace the counter services in Sulby, but wants to hear from residents about the future of post in the village.
It comes after the owner of Sulby Stores, Graham Garret, resigned as sub-postmaster following his decision to close the much-loved community shop at the end of March.
The board of the Isle of Man Post Office hasn’t proposed to seek a replacement sub-postmaster, but wants the views of ‘key stakeholders’.
A consultation has been launched for anyone to give feedback on the future of postal services in the village – the deadline for responses is 17 March.
Ballaugh is now the nearest post office to Sulby with counter-based services.
Meanwhile, the Isle of Man Municipal Association said they are ‘disgusted’ at the prospect of losing sub-post offices from communities around the Island.
Vivien Quane, chair of the organisation which acts as a forum for local authorities to exchange ideas and experiences, said members are ‘deeply concerned’ about the impact of sub-post office closures, a result of a ‘demand-driven’ strategy to make the loss-making retail network sustainable.
The issue has been keenly felt in Ballasalla, where residents face losing counter services for a kiosk despite strong opposition by national and local politicians.
Post Office chair Julie Edge said the board has listened to the village, with work underway to hire a ‘service partner’ to assist residents with the machine.
Quane, who’s also a Lezayre Commissioner, said authorities in other parts of the Island are worried their sub-post offices will be the next to go, adding that they are afraid about what the changes will do to local communities.
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