As new Rathmines Post Office opens the fight for the old building continues
As Rathmines Post Office reopens at a new location, the battle to keep the old previous premises within public ownership continues.
Despite locals and politicians campaigning for the retention of the Rathmines Post Office , the previous premises, which had been operating since 1934, ceased operations on Friday and reopened in Centra on Lower Rathmines Road this morning (Monday, July 20). Pushback on the move was strongly felt locally, with a ‘Save Rathmines Post Office’ petition garnering over 2,500 signatures.
“Many people, particularly our elderly in the community who regularly use our vital, not for profit, public resources are understandably very distressed by the proposed plans which will be an unimaginable loss to our community,” the Change.org petition stated.
The original debate related to those who relied on the original Post Office on Rathmines Road Upper for mail and parcel collection, particularly the elderly. But now that it has officially ceased operations has shifted toward retaining the building within public ownership and ensuring it continues to service the community in some way.
Labour Councillor Fiona Connelly described the situation as “very urgent” at last week’s South East Area Committee meeting and called for Dublin City Council to confirm a meeting date with An Post. Fellow Labour Cllr Dermot Lacey agreed and said “the battle to retain the building” is now the important element and that if An Post would simply allow DCC to use the building it would be a “win-win” for everybody.
The manager’s response stated that An Post is planning to put the building on the market as early as quarter one next year. He said that they wrote to An Post to express their interest in using the building and that they are currently waiting on a response.
Cllr Lacey explained that the “bottom line” is that the majority of councillors “don’t want them to go to the market” and that for this building to go to a private owner would be “a real tragedy”. “It won’t cost An Post anything, they could still retain ownership, just as we retain ownership of the Town Hall but ETB uses it,” he said.
“It would be absolutely disgraceful if one arm of the state sells off an asset. It’s important to remember that in 2011 - 2016 when the state was in the absolute pits of financial despair, no state assets were sold off. Now with money rolling through the banks it would be disgraceful. We will continue to fight that battle.”
Independent Cllr Mannix Flynn suggested DCC examine the potential of a “land swap” between An Post and stressed is it important the old building “doesn’t get lost”. He said there is very little provision for youth and community services in Rathmines and highlighted the contradiction of having so many discussions about "rejuvenation" while the State considers selling off assets that the council wants to put to community use.
A meeting between councillors and An Post was tentatively scheduled for late July.
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