North Mayo postal service must be maintained at current level

THE postal service in Erris must be maintained at its current level.

An Post has plans to move the local depot into the sorting office in Ballina.

However, a resolution calling on An Post to maintain the Erris depot and postal service as it is was passed by local councillors at a Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting.

Councillor Sean Carey, who proposed the resolution, said it was totally impracticable to move the service to Ballina, resulting in a 100-mile round trip for some of the 13 staff, and more for others.

He was asking An Post to disband that idea and continue with the Erris sorting office as is.

Councillor Carey said there is concern too that if it moves, the amount of postal people will be reduced. It is a lifeline for a lot of people to have the postman call, he pointed out.

It's 'ridiculous' to be sending 13 vans to Ballina and back, commented his area colleague Councillor Gerry Coyle.

Some may be electric vehicles but they won't go to Ballina and then deliver the post without being charged, he noted.

*Published under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme