200 branch closures in past 12 months

GLYNNEATH sub-postmaster Keith Richards, who is spokesman for the National Federation of Sub-postmasters in Wales, said the post office network in Wales has lost nearly 200 branches in the past 12 months.

And he predicted unmanaged closures would cause even more pain.

He said: "The worst part of this is that it is going to be an unmanaged closure rather than managed closures.

"Every council in Wales has been critical of the Network Change programme but it has been done on a sympathetic basis after assessment of community needs.

"This will be postmasters asking: 'Do I go before I get bankrupt or do I wait for bankruptcy to hit?'"