THE closure of the main post offices in Newtownards and Bangor will leave both areas in unique positions, it has been claimed.
The ‘Crown’ post offices at Frances Street, in Newtownards, and Main Street, in Bangor, are to be shut down by the Post Office in a move likely to go ahead next year.
The closures are part of a major rationalisation process across the UK in which all ‘Crown’ post offices are to close. ‘Crown’ offices are owned by the Post Office whereas many smaller Post Offices are franchised.
However, Strangford MP Jim Shannon has claimed that the closures will mean Newtownards and Bangor will be the only places in the UK without a hub retained in the town centre.
Mr Shannon recently met with Mark Gibson, a senior Post Office official to discuss the forthcoming closures.
“The news that the Post Offices are to close in Newtownards and Bangor was not great news and indeed at Westminster before summer recess,” he said.
“I raised the point that we were concentrating on accessibility to Post Offices for the vulnerable and yet Newtownards, that has Folds and over 55s residential establishments close to the town centre, will have no local access.
“I met with Mark Gibson from the Post Office to highlight the fact that in all of the management run Post Offices, Newtownards and Bangor are the only ones out of 140 to not have a hub retained in the town.
“Mark Gibson had informed me that there were to be enhancements to a number of existing hubs which is great news, however it does not take away from the need for a central town hub.”
Mr Shannon said he will raise the issue next week at Westminster with Post Office executives but he asked as many as possible to respond to the ongoing consultation into the closures, and ask for a central hub in Newtownards.
Newtownards councillor Naomi Armstrong-Cotter, said there is a need for access for people who come into the town each week to do their shopping by bus. She also has concerns about the existing Post Office building iself.
“This is something that I have raised with officers at council and will be working with the Post Office to see how we can ensure that the building is put to use,” said alderman Armstrong-Cotter.
