Councillors call on An Post to retain north Mayo sorting office

Erris councillors have called on Mayo County Council to contact An Post to express their opposition to plans to close the local sorting office.

An Post proposes to amalgamate the Barnatra postal sorting office in Erris into a new central facility in Ballina next spring, a move described as crazy by local councillors.

The change would mean that the 13 postal workers who deliver across the Erris region would have to undertake a two-hour 100-mile plus round trip each day to collect the day’s post before even starting their deliveries.

The matter was raised at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District where local councillor Seán Carey called on the local authority to write to An Post to call on them to retain the service.

“There are 13 people working locally and that will mean those vans have to go to Ballina every day of the week and you are talking about a 100 mile round trip for some and more for others. It is nonsense.

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“I ask An Post to disband that idea and continue with the sorting office in the Erris area and continue the service locally. There is concern that if it moves, will the amount of post people be reduced?

“It is a lifeline for a lot of people for the postman to be calling to them in remote areas and especially elderly. The postman might be the only person they meet during the day. I ask a resolution go from this meeting that we write to An post to retain the depot services in Erris,” he said.

The Fianna Fáil councillor was supported by his fellow Erris-based councillor Gerry Coyle who said what was being envisaged was crazy.

“It is ridiculous that 13 vans will be sent from Erris to Ballina and back again. People say some of those vans are electric. Well there is no van that will leave Blacksod and go to Ballina and deliver all the post on one charge. It is crazy what is being envisaged,” he said.