Retain An Post services to the rural village of Ballymore, Co.Westmeath by
Reissuing the Postmasters licence.
The Post Office service in Ballymore has been a hugely important hub of activity for many years and it continues to be a busy service.
Ballymore Post Office is a core enterprise of rural communities and is responsible for the provision of vital financial services to the most vulnerable service users in our area. There is a agreement between An Post and the government that AnPost must ensure that people continue to have access to financial services and are not financially excluded.
The reform agenda of An Post is forcing 'change' onto people, before they have actually had a chance to adapt their ways to modern day online facilities.
One worrying result of this will be that our most vulnerable; older service users and those with physical or intellectual challenges, will now be drawn into towns to draw their cash payments. This not not only subjects them to the fear of theft, but in these current times, there are at a hugely higher risk of being infected with Covid19. There is also a distinct lack of public or private transport in the area.
"This is yet another service being slowly ripped away from rural Ireland, if we stand by and allow this to happen we will wake up one day and there won’t be a heart left in our rural communities,” said Cllr McCormack.
This petition will be delivered by local TD's, to government, namely the Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport.
AnPost Public Affairs Manager, Angus Laverty is not interested in our figures and therefore, this is one of the routes we are taking this campaign.
Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL
It was extremely important for us to go directly to people who have no internet access or ability to use online services. Age Action Ireland stated on RTE News Now this morning, (15/10/2020) that 50% of older people do not have online access. This is a huge figure. And is a testament to how detrimental it is to cease local, vital An Post postmaster services.
Continued:
"Big loss to the village"
"We are in fear of Covid-19 for traveling into big towns to collect our pensions, and are terrified of theft and being mugged of our pensions on the street."
"Where are the TD's, especially Robert Troy TD who is himself, a postmaster by trade"
"Who'll go to Streamstown? There's nothing there to do. I have to get someone to drive me there, then straight back home. Its a 10mile trip there and back."
"It's awful. Where do we go for our payments? I can't do online. I have no Internet. It is the only time I get out to see and speak to people in the week."
When we conducted the door-to-door campaign, we did so with the highest regard to safe working procedures for the prevention of the spread of Covid-19.
The word on the street were as follows:
"Terrible decision. Pure disbelief this was let happen."
"It's a destruction to rural communities"
"Parcel postage will be sorely missed, I'll have to go to Athlone"
"A disgrace that vulnerable people in rural areas are being targeted once again"
Our current campaign is now in the lap of our local councillors and TD's, who are in communications with Eamon Ryan TD, as the Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport.
Before the restrictions were advised last week, we were fortunate enough to get out briefly door to door in the community, with a focus on those who have limited or no access to online services. This proved very successful but was cut short owing to current restrictions with regards to protecting us from the spread of Covid 19.
An Post really need to meet the needs of service users. There is no solid argument for not reissuing the postmaster licence to Ballymore, as the argument is based on incorrect facts:
1/ There are in excess of 500 services users who rely on Ballymore Post Office
2/ There is an existing premises where the postmaster and An Post services can operate within. There are also candidates waiting to take up the new postmasters position.
500 signatures reached
Good evening everyone ;)
Thank you for taking the time to sign this petition we created on behalf of the village and its greater surrounding areas.
In the first hour of its creation, well in excess of 100 signatures have been gathered. Hopefully, we can keep the momentum going.
Having this evidence of local support can only be a good thing for those going forward to challenge An Post.
Can you help spread the word by forwarding the link below to your own contacts, who may side with us in a bid to save Ballymore Post Office.
https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/save-ballymore-post-office
Also, if you could help anyone, who may not be as confident or computer literate as yourself, to sign, that would be super too!
Big Thanks,
Nicola & Vinny
100 signatures reached
50 signatures reached
25 signatures reached
10 signatures reached
