Family's fears realised as Post Office confirm branch closures
THE owners of a Tandragee post office say they face an 'uncertain future' after it was confirmed that their branch is one of two in the wider Portadown area to close next month.
Husband and wife Paul and Barbara Wilson, who have owned and run the Eleven Lane Ends post office on the Clare Road for the past 16 years, were told on Monday that Post Office Ltd is to close their branch in July.
Eleven Lane Ends will close its doors along with the Battlehill Road post office outside Portadown.
Both branches were earmarked for closure in May but Barbara (42), a qualified sub post-mistress, said she held out hope that her branch would have been saved after a six-week consultation period process held by Post Office Ltd.
"It's still a shock," she explained. "Once we were earmarked for closure we were basically told that we would be closing but it will be weird once it closes because there has always been one in the area."
Mr Wilson (47) claimed the six-week consultation period was a 'joke' and claimed Post Office Ltd had already decided their fate.
"Post Office Ltd had already had their minds made up. The whole area uses this post office but they never gave any consideration to location," he said.
"For them it was a black and white issue; they didn't even ask if any of the owners of the post offices in the area wanted to close, which would have enabled us to stay open."
uncertain
The Wilsons, who have six children, will continue to run their shop which is attached to their family home and incorporates the post office. But they fear that without post office customers from next month, the future of their store is uncertain.
Mrs Wilson said, "We contacted an estate agent about putting up the shop and house up for sale but we've decided against it, after all this is our family home, and we're going to wait until July and see how it goes.
"We're not in financial bother but the monthly income from the post office paid for overheads in the shop, things like rates and electricity bills, and often people who would come in to use the post office would buy a couple of bits and pieces."
Customers who used Eleven Lane Ends will now have to travel to Markethill and Clare, after previously offering to start a petition to oppose the closure of the branch.
"Some of them were annoyed but we told them it wasn't worthwhile; the decision has been made. But many of our elderly customers will find travelling somewhere else difficult – there was one women I served last week who can barely walk," said Mrs Wilson.
Eleven Lane Ends Post Office, which has been located on the Clare Road for the past 150 years, is a piece of rural life which is disappearing.
"I love the shop, I love dealing with people every day, and we know everybody who comes into the shop – I'd be lost without this place. And I'd like to thank our loyal post office customers for their support for the past 16 years," added Mrs Wilson.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portadown
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
