Fianna Fáil Councillor, John Paul Feeley has welcomed confirmation that agreement has now been reached on the opening of a Post Office in Blacklion at a new premises within one month. ‘This is very welcome news that will restore an essential service to our community in the near future. There has been a huge level of concern that this vital service would be lost but the agreement to open in a premises on the Belcoo Road will put an end to the uncertainty and allow the community access normal post office services into the future.’ Previously the Post Office had operated from the Shop and Filling Station which were the subject of criminal damage a number of weeks ago as a result of which the building was rendered structurally unstable. ‘I have had ongoing contact together with Brendan Smith TD with An Post at regional and national level to ensure that they were fully aware to the desire of the community to have the Post Office restored without delay. I have also worked closely with Dympna Stewert who, as a result of the agreement will continue to operate the Post Office into the future and the landlord, Noel & Bridie Keegan. A substantial amount of work was required and I am delighted that we have brought matters to this stage’ Work will commence on fitting the shop premises out in the coming days and every effort will be made to have the Post Office opened in the short-term but at the latest within a month. The Post Office previously had a National Lottery Franchise and it is hoped that in the coming months other services will be added to the Post Office.’ Councillor Feeley wished Dympna Stewert well in her endeavours and thanked her for her resilience and hard work in the face of the challenges she had as a result of the damage to the previous premises. ‘The local community have been very patient in the face of the disruption and inconvenience caused by the Post Office closure. I hope that they will now return to the service in Blacklion and I appeal to everyone in all communities to use their local post to the greatest extent possible to protect this vital service.’ There remains a shop and filling station lying derelict in Blacklion as a result of the recent damage and at least eleven people have been left unemployed as a result. Concluding Councillor Feeley expressed the hope that this situation would be resolved in the near future.