Postal closure decision in weeks
A SWANSEA Valley post office could be closed before the end of the year, bosses have revealed.
Campaigners are fighting to save closure-threatened Lone Road Post Office in Clydach from the axe.
But the Post Office has revealed that if they decide to permanently close the branch, the doors could shut by November.
Bosses with the company say local people can travel to the post office in the centre of Clydach at High Street or even travel to Craig Cefn Park.
But opponents argue that many people in the Sunnybank area of Clydach are elderly and cannot easily travel the distances involved.
Jill Jones, who works at the post office, said: "I think it's disgusting what they're doing, because it is quite a busy post office.
"The customers can't park up in Craig Cefn Park and there's difficulty parking in the High Street.
"We have customers coming down here from Craig Cefn Park."
Hundreds of people signed up to save the post office from closure.
It was previously threatened but saved after a campaign in April.
Now the Post Office has begun a six-week local public consultation on its plans as part of its nationwide network change programme.
A company spokesman said: "In proposing that the Lone Road branch should close, Post Office has taken into account that customers would be able to access services from nearby branches at High Street, Clydach, and Craig Cefn Park in Rhyddwen Road.
"Customers may also access Post Office services by telephone or via the internet."
The public consultation over the closure plans ends on Monday, September 29.
The spokesman said: "All comments must be received by then if they are to be considered.
"We will communicate our decision once all representations have been reviewed. We would expect this decision by mid to late October."
3 Comments
by Anne, Port Talbot
Monday, August 25 2008, 10:12AM
“In this day and age there is no regard towards us pensioners to what is done not everyone can get into a big town.”
by JohnW, Lincs
Monday, August 25 2008, 5:06AM
“Lets not miss the bigger picture here.
It is not the loss of the ability to get your pension or car tax etc that is a stake, these services can be provided by other, cheaper means, even if these means are not too popular with many of the older generation. What we are losing as a nation is the ability to post that parcel (Mum¿s present) or send that recorded delivery etc. The Post Office Network is, or should we say was, the front end of the Royal Mail, ie the Postal Service. The payment of pensions and benefits etc through the existing Post Office Branches was a cost effective use of government resources at the time when the payments were introduced, as was issuing car tax, TV licenses etc. This has now been superseded by modern payment and banking methods, however the government is intent on throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
Before long we will not only have to travel to the nearest town or main post office to post our mail, we will find that we will have to go there to collect it as well!”
by david, australia
Sunday, August 24 2008, 9:01PM
“my sister is 84 and if the post office closes ,will have to catch taxi on pension day to town its no good”