Postal counter service looking for a new home
Just now
Chanelle Sukhoo
Isle of Man
The current central post office counter in the town of Ramsey is due to close from next year.
Isle of Man Post Office (IoMPO) has posted an expression of interest for local businesses interested in taking over the running of the contract from 1 February 2027 until 31 March 2028 with an option to extend for a further 12 months.
The closure will fall in line with the ending of the Spar store in Parliament Street, which currently offers the counter service.
A spokesperson said: "For operational reasons, Mannin Retail has made the difficult decision to close the SPAR Ramsey Parliament Street store, including the Post Office. The store will close on 30 January 2027."
Postal services at Ellan Vannin Fuels Filling Station on Lezayre Road will be unaffected.
In a statement, IoMPO said the procurement formed part of the ongoing approach to ensuring postal services remained accessible, resilient, and sustainable while meeting the changing needs of customers and communities across the island.
The successful new applicant would need to provide a dedicated post office counter and staffing to offer all postal services, sales of foreign exchange and bill payment services in central Ramsey.
Chairman Stu Peters said IoMPO recognised the importance and convenience of having access to postal services in the community, and so the priority was to identify a suitable new retail partner and maintain a strong postal presence in the town centre.
'Worrying times'
A Ramsey commissioner said news of the removal of the postal service counter had "come as a surprise" to the community.
Eric Corkish said it is something that is a concern for the commissioners and residents, and it is something he is hoping to bring up with Chief Minister Chris Thomas when he visits the town later.
"He is here to do something else, but I am sure there will be questions around the postal service that will be raised to him, and hopefully he will have some answers for us," he said.
Corkish added it will be "worrying times" if no other local business puts itself forward to run the service.
"If they do not get somebody else to run the service will we lose it all together?", he questioned.
He believed the move was a result of more services being made available online.
"You can pay for car tax and do other stuff online nowadays, which if you are younger is great and convient but for the older residents it is not because we are not as tech savvy and still rely, or enjoy, going to the local post office," he said.
Meanwhile, Ramsey MHK Juan McGuinness posted on Facebook that he had contacted the post office "seeking clarification on when the current arrangement will end, how the continuity of the service will be maintained and what alternatives are available if a replacement cannot be found."
He said while he appreciated the current retailer has made a commercial decision, a centrally located counter remained an important service for Ramsey, particularly for older residents and those without easy access to transport.
"The Post Office has committed to maintaining a presence in the town centre, that commitment now needs to be backed up by a clear plan to ensure services continue," he said.
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