Closure plans for 40 post offices

The closures will see 40 post offices shut and 19 with a replacement service

Royal Mail is consulting the public on plans to close 40 post offices across south and west Wales and replace a further 19 with an "outreach service".

The list includes Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot, Ammanford, Bridgend, Llanelli, Fishguard and Haverfordwest.

Postwatch Wales said it accepted the "rationale for change" but wanted it to happen "in a way that minimises customer inconvenience and confusion".

The public has until 14 July to comment on the closures due by the end of 2008.

The closure will be part of a programme of 2,500 across the UK announced last May because of mounting financial losses and falling customer numbers.

The Post Office said the changes would leave 291 post office branches across south and west Wales, including the 19 outreach services.

CLOSURE LIST Aberavon: Abergwynfi, Cymmer Afan, Jersey Marine Bridgend: Coychurch, Ewenny, Penyfai Carmarthen East and Dinefwr: Blaenau, Cwmann, Gorslas, Llansaint, Parcyrhun, Saron, Tirydail, Penally, Templeton Gower: Garnswllt, Parkmill Llanelli: Achddu, Mynydd-y-Garreg, Swiss Valley Park, Thomas Street, Upper Tumble Neath: Aberdulais, Cwmgors, Leonard Street, Maesyffynon, Neath Abbey Ogmore:Bryncethin, Commercial Street, Heol-Y-Cyw, Wyndham Preseli Pembrokeshire: Albert Town, Bwlchgroes, Little Haven, Llanychaer, Llwyndrain, Prendergast, Tiers Cross Swansea West: Carnglas Road, Gors Avenue

Tony Jones, regional development manager at Post Office Ltd, said the current network of post offices was unsustainable.

But he said 94% of customers would see no change in their post office services if the closures up for consultation are implemented.

Postwatch Wales chairman, Eifion Pritchard, said he hoped both households and businesses could provide the independent watchdog for postal services with feedback on proposals affecting their area.

He said: "Post office closures are not good news for customers, but the government has decided that a significant number are necessary to help put in place a sustainable network for the long-term.

"That means Post Office Ltd's decisions must be sensible and public consultation meaningful. Our priority is to ensure this is the case."

Alun Davies, Labour AM for Mid and West Wales, said the proposals to close six offices in Ammanford would "shut nearly half the current number of counters in the town and surrounding area".

He has called on the assembly government to reopen the Welsh Assembly Government Post Office development fund.

He said: "Unlike other European countries we are not doing enough to protect our vulnerable town and country communities."

Peter Black, Liberal Democrat AM for South West Wales, said: "The government claim to be working to prevent closures where possible, however, one of the key factors in the decline of post offices is the removal of government business from them."

'Dire situation'

Mr Black said: "In 2006/07 the value of services withdrawn by the government equalled �168m whilst post offices made an operating loss of �111m."

Plaid Cymru AM for South West Wales Bethan Jenkins called the closure programme "savage", saying post offices had been under "sustained attack" from successive Conservatvie and Labour governments.

"The government simply does not seem to care about our communities and the services that we rely on. If they did they would never allow this to happen," she said.

The National Federation of Sub Postmasters said it had "reluctantly" agreed to the closures.

Patricia Jenkins, the federation's membership officer for Wales, said: "Although we regret very much closure of post office, the situation for postmasters is so dire that we have reluctantly agreed to the closure programme in the hope it will save the entire network.

"There are an awful lot of postmasters whose businesses are going to the wall because they do not have enough work.

"Hopefully, the work that's left [after the closures] will be spread among those remaining."

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