Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) wishes to advise customers that Foxdale Post Office will close with effect from the end of August.

Sub Postmaster Ellan Vannin Fuels (EVF) have tendered their resignation after almost four years of running the post office. Due to the continuing decline of customers using the post office for face-to-face transactions, EVF feel the economic benefits to keep running the office open are no longer viable.

Phill Downs, of EVF said: “It is with regret that the decision has been taken to close the Post Office within our Foxdale store. The IOMPO and the team here at EVF have worked tirelessly to try and find a financially viable solution to the current situation and to continue to provide the service. This has not been successful and the decision to close has been after many months of evaluation. Diminishing numbers of transactions has resulted in the Post Office activity losing money for the last three years and although I appreciate the impact that this will have on the local community, as a business we cannot continue to sustain these loses as it would jeopardise the entire site operations.”

IOMPO is disappointed by the news but accepts that post offices are being used less frequently not just across the Island, but in the postal world universally. More and more customers are choosing to transact their business using digital methods which reduces footfall into local post offices to do things face-to-face. In addition, people are not sending as much traditional mail as they used to resulting in a steady decline in mail volumes each year. IOMPO is committed to maintaining postal services in the communities across the Island and endeavours to retain, protect and increase the need for customers to use their local post office through the introduction of enhanced and new products and services available over the counter where possible.

Mary Gaffney, Customer Services Manager, Isle of Man Post Office, said: “We accept EVF’s difficult decision to tender their resignation. We would like to express our thanks to them for the four years of dedicated service they have provided to Foxdale and the surrounding areas. We recognise that customers will be saddened by the news and apologise for any inconvenience the closure will cause. When the Foxdale office closes at the end of August, we would encourage customers to use the neighbouring post offices situated in Station Road, St Johns or Douglas Street in Peel. While MiCard customers will be requested to contact the Social Security Division to make arrangements to collect their pensions and benefits from an alternative Post Office.  A letter will be sent to MiCard customers explaining the process they should follow.”