Just less than a quarter of Fermanagh’s post offices are to be modernised in the coming months, with most relocating to retail stores.

The decision to change will be voluntarily made by the postmaster/mistress, who will receive a lump sum from Post Office Ltd.

In the last two years, Derrylin, Clabby and Garrison post offices moved into nearby shops. This has resulted in longer open hours, including on Sundays. Lisbellaw and Brookeborough have agreed on-site renovations.

When Post Office Ltd. proposes a move to another location, it is only confirmed following a public consultation.

Public consultations are currently underway in Ederney and in Maguiresbridge and both consultations are due finish on December 10.

It is further proposed that Ballinamallard post office will move and the consultation ends next Wednesday, November 26. Post Office Ltd. is awaiting a decision on Tempo which has only recently finished consultation. Last week, it was confirmed that Chanterhill will move to McBride’s Spar, Irvine’s Crescent.

The changes are likely to mean an end to many smaller, rural post offices.

When changes like these are anticipated and worked towards, there is no doubt there is a sadness at the passing of a certain way of life. The rural post office is from an era when people had more time. The Post Office changes are to facilitate the changing needs of customers, it is said. Three of the Post Offices that moved recently into retail premises now open on a Sunday, said a spokesperson for Post Office. And that is set to increase.

The plan is for the moves to within stores to complement the services that are currently available there.

Business is being transformed that the changing needs of customers are served and to secure a commercially sustainable future.

Society is changing rapidly and many businesses have had to rethink how they interact with their customers to ensure that they are still meeting their needs. The Post Office is no different, it says.

This is the lastest reflection of changing times in Fermanagh and there is the inevitable sadness at the loss of stand-alone office sthat have served their communities for decades.