Four groups interested in reopening post office

With the wider Broadford community upping the ante as regards their campaign to have the local post office reopened, it has emerged that four groups have expressed “serious interest” in operating the facility if An Post refuses to do a u-turn on the closure.
Public outrage has been strong since An Post shut down the post office in early November but since then an action group has prepared a submission, delivered to An Post earlier this week, supporting calls for a reopening of the post office.
Action group chairman, PJ Mason, confirmed to The Clare Champion that approximately 1,000 people had signed a petition while 300 families in the Broadford postal districts had returned a questionnaire calling on An Post to reopen the post office as soon as possible.
“They have pledged their willingness to do as much business as possible through Broadford Post Office with a strong demand for banking services. Four groups have also expressed their interest in operating a post office in Broadford should they be granted a licence by An Post. They all have buildings available in the village for that purpose,” Mr Mason said.
The action group chairman acknowledged that the volume of business had gone down at Broadford Post Office in recent years. “The strong opinion of the community is that the conditions at the now-closed post office were very unsuitable. Severe lack of privacy existed in conducting personal business and this scenario was not conducive to developing business there.
“There is now very concrete evidence that business at Broadford Post Office would grow very rapidly under good, discreet management. More than 300 families, along with businesses, have indicated in writing their willingness to support the post office. There is strong demand for full banking facilities at the post office,” he outlined.
Mr Mason said two public meetings gauged the level of outcry over An Post’s decision to close Broadford Post Office. It had also emerged that as a backlash to that decision, people were considering withdrawing other business from An Post.
“A number of families, including businesses, have indicated that they may withdraw business from An Post, such as An Post saving schemes and posting of large packets and letters by courier if the post office is not reopened at Broadford,” he said.
Mr Mason said that under existing arrangements, people were being greatly inconvenienced.“Severe hardship is being experienced by many people attending Tulla Post Office due to distance from their homes and the lack of public transport. There is the added problem of collecting registered post from Tulla Post Office because of the distance during the working day.
“The post office is of critical importance to this community and the wider catchment area. Our submission to An Post shows the greater Broadford community needs these services and are very willing to support the post office, as it is the only such service left,” he stressed.