South Belfast MLA Anna Lo addressing a public meeting on the proposed closure of a popular post office on the Lisburn Road. (Seated from left) representative from Michael McGimpsey¿s office Michelle Bostock, Jimmy Spratt, Catherine Mulvenna from the Post Office Ltd and meeting chair and post office user Jim Laverty
Community unites behind Post Office
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
By Gráinne McWilliams
Residents and businesses from the Lisburn Road have called on the Post
Office to reconsider plans to close a local branch described as a “lifeline”.
Representatives from the Post Office Ltd meet with local MLAs and customers
of the branch, which is situated at the corner of Edinburgh Street and the
Lisburn Road, at a public meeting last week in Malone Avenue’s Windsor
Baptist Church. The Lisburn Road branch, is set to close its doors on July
8, 2008, as part of a UK-wide restructuring plan of the company which will
see almost 100 post offices close across Northern Ireland.
The meeting was part of a six week province-wide public consultation
exercise on the closures which ended ended this week
Addressing the Post Office Ltd representatives, south Belfast MLA Jimmy
Spratt said it was important that the branch stayed open as it was “a vital
facility for the local elderly and disabled”.
“My party conducted a survey of this area and found that 726 pen
sioners will be affected by the closure, along with 1063 disabled
residents,” said Mr Spratt.
“Please go back and reconsider your decision as these vulnerable people need
their post office and want it to stay.”
“This branch is a lifeline to people like us as the nearest post office is
too far away,” said one elderly woman.
“We would have to rely on the bus, which costs money and takes time, or rely
on a car which means losing our parking space outside our homes. Sam and
Heather (branch workers) treat you like family when you come in and call you
by your first name — where else do you get that level of service?”
“I’m the assistant manager of two local off-licences and we rely very
heavily on this post office branch,” explained one woman.
“I’m a minimum wage worker so I won’t be able to afford a taxi to the
nearest post office when this one closes, which means walking there with
thousands of pounds each day.”
Responding to the concerns raised at the meeting, Post Office Ltd
representative Catherine Mulvenna said they would not be extending the
consultation period.
“I agree with a lot of what is being said, but unfortunately it does not get
away from the fact that less and less people are using them,” said Ms
Mulvenna.
The Post Office Ltd are set to announce the final closure decisions on
Tuesday, June 3, 2008.
