by Cliona Connolly 

CLONES Town Councillor Deirdre Kelly has requested the Minister for Communication, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, introduce a Public Service Obligation Order with EU authorisation for Clones Post Office. “Such a Policy would have to be initiated by Minister Ryan and would prevent the closure of Clones Post Office,” Cllr Kelly explained.

“It’s a listed building and one of the best known in the town. If it were to close down and then possibly fall derelict it would be truly shameful. With the reopening of the nearby Ulster Canal we should instead be looking at refurbishing the property, maintaining postal facilities there and possibly setting up a museum in the building as well,” Cllr Kelly said.

“I await the Ministers response as a matter of urgency.  I am very disappointed that I have had no response from the Minister and have written to the Minister again this week requesting a meeting,” she added.

Built in 1903, Clones post office is a landmark building strategically located on the Diamond. “It’s an historic building and it’s important it retains its status as the town’s post office,” counter clerk Colm Flynn believes.

Mr Flynn has called on local politicians to lobby for the retention of Clones PO and to support the request that Minister Ryan introduce a Public Service Obligation Order. “I would ask local businesses to show the same loyalty to Clones PO as was shown in Killmallock, Co Limerick where traders rejected offers of a sub-contracted service in favour of retaining the PO in its original state.”

“The current management of An Post inherited what is a state asset and as such should not be allowed to sell it. The building has minimal overheads. If the business is contracted out, An Post will have to pay the owner of the retail premises and for alternative facilities for postmen. It doesn’t make commercial sense,” Mr Flynn

explained.

Cllr Kelly paid tribute to the staff of Clones PO “The determination of past and present staff of Clones Post Office to retain the facility in its current location where it has efficiently and professionally served the people of Clones for over 100 years is to be admired.”

The number of Post Offices earmarked for closure was recently reduced. Cllr Kelly has called for Clones PO be included in the ten saved from closure. “With the closure of Post Offices in the surrounding area, such as in Scotshouse, the volume of business at Clones Post Office will only increase.”

“It is now time for the Government to look at the option of providing a financial subvention to ensure the company retains not profit making offices.  There may be a need to distinguish between that part of the network which is commercially sustainable and the other part which may be socially essential but may not be as commercially viable,” Cllr Kelly concluded.