Post Office seeks new Ramsey town centre provider after Spar contract notice

The Isle of Man Post Office (IoMPO) is inviting Ramsey businesses to take on post office services in the town centre, after the current provider gave notice on its contract, according to Isle of Man Today, Energy FM and Manx Radio.

Mannin Retail Limited has given notice on its contract to run the services from the Spar outlet on Parliament Street, the outlets reported. IoMPO announced on 12 November that it was looking for a replacement.

Whichever business is chosen will have to provide a dedicated post office counter and the staff to run it, Isle of Man Today reported. The counter is expected to offer the full range of postal services, along with foreign currency and bill payments, in central Ramsey.

According to Manx Radio, IoMPO described the procurement as part of its wider work to keep postal services accessible and sustainable as customers’ needs change. It said partnerships with local businesses were an important way of keeping services convenient to reach.

The post office counter at the Ellan Vannin Fuels filling station on Lezayre Road is not affected, the outlets reported.

Stu Peters, chairman of IoMPO, said the Post Office recognised how much convenient access mattered to the Ramsey community, and that its priority was “to identify a suitable new retail partner and maintain a strong postal presence in the town centre”.

He said IoMPO would like to hear from local businesses that think a post office counter could sit well alongside what they already offer. Energy FM reported that Mr Peters remains chair until a replacement is confirmed.

Interested businesses should send their expression of interest to IoMPO by email by midday on Thursday 3 December, Isle of Man Today reported.

Ramsey MHK Juan McGuiness said the announcement would “understandably concern many Ramsey residents”, according to Manx Radio.

He said he welcomed the effort to find a new operator, but had contacted IoMPO to ask when the current arrangement would end, how continuity of service would be maintained and what the alternatives would be if no replacement could be found.

Mr McGuiness said he accepted that the current retailer had made a commercial decision, but that a counter in the centre of the town remained important, “particularly for older residents and those without easy access to transport”.

He said IoMPO had committed to keeping a presence in the town centre, and that the commitment “now needs to be backed up by a clear plan”. He said he would update residents when he had more information.