A Co Cork action group will launch a postcard campaign tomorrow to protest against the changing of the local post office into a "sub-office" by An Post.
Members of the Clonakilty group, which is backed by Clonakilty Urban Council and the Clonakilty Business Association, will leave the 1798 Monument in the town's centre at 4 p.m. to march to the post office. The first postcard objecting to the downgrading will then be posted to An Post.
Clonakilty Post Office Action Group believes that An Post intends to sub-contract the town's postal service to a shop or supermarket despite a growth in the town's population and the continued use of postal services.
It claims the downgrading may lead to people having to conduct private business in unsuitable locations.
Councillor Phil O'Regan, the town's acting mayor, said yesterday that "An Post isn't prepared to talk to us or tell us anything".
The An Post press office confirmed yesterday that the Clonakilty Post Office was one of 50 offices nationwide to be changed to "sub-office" status over the next 18 months. Clonakilty would probably be among the last branches to be altered.
A spokeswoman said there would be no change in the customer service at these offices, and that "very high standards" would have to be met by those who wanted the postal business.
She added that the Communication Workers' Union had agreed to the modifications last year.