By Alan Healy
The Post Office has refused to comment on whether alternative arrangements will be put in place ahead of the expected closure of one its local branches later this week.
The Derry News revealed earlier this year that the future of the Park Avenue post office in the Rosemount area was in doubt due to the resignation of the postmaster who was running the branch.
The Post Office had recently reassured people living in the area that it was looking for a replacement postmaster for Rosemount and ‘had interest which we are continuing to explore’.
The branch had been due to close on November 27, but The Derry News now understands that has now been extended until December 2.
Concerns have now been raised in the community as to whether the Post Office has put in place contingency measures to ensure there is no interruption in service if the closure goes ahead.
The Derry News contacted the Post Office in an effort to find out what measures were being put in place for alternative arrangements if the closure goes ahead, and how many expressions of interest it had received in relation to a new postmaster taking over the
However, a spokesperson for the Post Office did not say what contingency arrangements were in place, and also did not comment on the progress being made to appoint a new postmaster.
"We are aware that the postmaster at Park Avenue has expressed an interest in leaving the network and has put the business on the market,” the spokesperson said.
“We would like to reassure customers that the Post Office is committed to maintaining a Post Office service in the area and will work hard to ensure this.”
Commenting, the independent councillor for the area, Darren O’Reilly said that if the Post Office wanted to reassure its customers in Rosemount, then it should ‘clarify’ what plans it has for the branch.
“We are aware that there is a process ongoing to look at someone taking the branch over and a number of people have engaged with this process,” Cllr O’Reilly said.
“I think that the Post Office need clarify what is happening with this process, and more importantly, tell the community what steps are being taken to ensure that there is no break in service and what alternative temporary provision is being considered.”
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