"Changing lifestyles" has had an effect on post office use

The Post Office has launched a six week public consultation. Plans for the rest of Wales are expected by summer 2008.

Offices affected are in Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, valleys and Bridgend.

Jonathan Morgan AM said he had been told that if business cases could be made to keep offices open, they would be considered.

AMs urged residents to take part in the consultation and prove they need their post office.

Post Office Ltd wants to hear views on the plans before any decision is made.

Under the proposals announced on Tuesday, the Post Office is considering closing six branches in Cardiff, seven in the Pontypridd area, five in the Rhondda, five in the Cynon Valley, three in Merthyr Tydfil, two in the Vale of Glamorgan, two in the Rhymney Valley, and one in Bridgend.

It will leave 153 post offices in the area.

It insists more than 99.7% of the area's population will either see no change, or will remain within one mile (by road) of an alternative branch.

CLOSURE LIST Bridgend: Rhoslanog, Parc Newydd Cardiff: Salisbury Rd, Cathays; Evansfield Rd, Llandaff North; Newport Rd, St Mellons; Sanquahar St and Splott Rd, Splott; Cowbridge Rd/Neville St, Canton Cynon Valley: Gadlys Rd, Aberdare; Merthyr Rd, Llwydcoed; Glancynon, Abercynon; Glyn Gwyn St, Miskin, Mountain Ash; Penderyn Comm Centre, Penderyn Merthyr: Chapel St, Abercanaid; Dan-y-Twyn, Quakers Yard; Station Sq, Merthyr Vale Rhymney Valley: Bristol Terr, Brithdir; Jerusalem St, Rhymney Pontypridd area: Swan St, Llantrisant; Cardiff Rd, Nantgarw; Graigwen Rd, Graigwen; Hopkinstown Rd, Hopkinstown; Leyshon St, The Graig; Tynybryn Rd, Tonyrefail; Trehafod Rd, Pontypridd Rhondda: Ynyswen Rd, Abergorky; Commercial St, Blaenllechau; Miskin Rd, Trealaw; Court St, Blaenclydach; PO at Spar, Llewellyn St, Pentre Vale of Glamorgan: High St, Barry; Pill St, Cogan Source: Post Office Ltd

Jonathan Morgan, Conservative AM for South Wales Central, has met the Post Office over the proposals and was hopeful that if branches could prove they can be run as good businesses, they could stay open.

'Reasoned argument'

"It's not a done deal. I had a private meeting with them [Post Office Ltd] and they said if I could put together a case for saving a post office they would give that consideration," he said.

"It is a case of use it or lose it. They [Post Office Ltd] will listen to reasoned argument. They [post offices] employ people, they provide a service but they are also a business and unless a business case can be made to keep them open then I'm afraid these post offices will close."

Christine Chapman, Labour AM for the Cynon Valley, said a mile for elderly people, especially when uphill, was often too far.

Plaid AM for South Wales Central Chris Franks has tabled a motion in the assembly condemning the proposed closures and the party has a campaign website.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German AM has set up an online petition on his website.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that three Cardiff post offices earmarked for closure have received assembly government funding totalling nearly �150,000.

But ministers say they will recover money given through its post office development fund if the branches at Splott Road, Sanquahar Street and St Mellons are closed.

An assembly government spokesperson said: "We would expect Post Office Ltd to compensate the sub-postmasters concerned.

"However, it would be premature to address this issue before the consultation has concluded."

New technology

Details of the closure plan emerged last Friday but the Post Office has now officially confirmed the list.

Steve Geraty, Post Office Ltd's network development manager for Wales, said: "Taking the decision to close any Post Office branch is always very difficult and we know will cause concern to many of our customers.

"We want to ensure that everyone who uses, relies on, or has any concern with Post Office services is both fully aware of the proposed changes and able to give views on them."

Plans for the rest of Wales are expected to be revealed in the coming months.

Watchdog Postwatch Wales said the plans were not good news for customers but the final decisions "must be sensible and public consultation meaningful".

Chair Eifion Pritchard said its final view would be formed by responses from customer.

"Postwatch Wales accepts the rationale for change. It is important that this happens in a way that minimises customer inconvenience and confusion."

About 2,500 post offices - a fifth of those left in the UK - are to close by 2009, the UK government confirmed in May.

The then Trade Secretary Alistair Darling said there were four million fewer customers using post offices every week in the UK than two years ago and they were losing �4m a week.

People who wish to respond are asked to email consultation@postoffice.co.uk by 10 December