Last ditch efforts being made to save Crosshaven post office

LAST minute efforts are continuing to be made to save Crosshaven Post Office from closure following the notification that the current postmistress is to retire at the end of the month.

A spokesman for An Post confirmed to The Echo on Wednesday that Sarah McGrath had tendered her resignation earlier this year and had requested her last day to be New Year’s Eve, December 31.

“The contract, to provide post offices services in Crosshaven, was advertised twice and local business canvased but again no interest was shown in the vacant contract,” said the spokesperson. “Over the last two months, we have again canvassed interest locally but to no avail.

“At this stage, and having exhausted all options around finding a new contractor in Crosshaven, the only available option is closure of the Post Office on December 31 and transfer of DSP payments and other post office services to Carrigaline Post Office, some 7.9kms away.” 

The spokesperson said work was beginning on assisting customers to move to Carrigaline Post Office or other offices which might be more appropriate to their individual circumstances. “We apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused,” he said.

Cllr Jack White, who represents Fine Gael in the Carrigaline municipality, said that he has been working with An Post, local interested parties and properties in an effort to keep the Post Office operating in Crosshaven and added that he had been ‘inundated with calls and messages’ about the potential closure.

“Residents of Crosshaven are very worried that we may be losing the Post Office from the village”.

“I’ve been working tirelessly with An Post and local parties since I heard the news,” said Cllr White. “Having spoken with An Post, they tell me they are fully open to a service continuing in Crosshaven, but they need somebody to operate it.

“An Post won’t be pulling out of Crosshaven because of its size. They are quite happy to maintain a presence if someone is willing to run it and there is a potentially lucrative business opportunity for that right person”.

“I’m putting interested parties in touch with A

n Post, and I have a commitment from An Post that they will engage in a meaningful way in an effort to keep the service in Crosshaven”.

Sinn Féin’s candidate for next year’s local election in the area, Eoghan Fahy, has said that they had been in touch with An Post also to raise their concerns.

“This is very worrying for the community in Crosshaven,” he said. “We spoke to An Post yesterday and they informed us they would respond to anyone who comes forward willing to take the post.

“This will see the loss of a vital service within the community and will be pressure on those who use the services most.

“This is an excellent and exciting opportunity for a new role as a postmaster.”