Fight goes on to save Post Offices

Aug 28 2008 By David Simister

COMMUNITIES across the Vale of Clwyd are fighting back against proposals to axe post offices across the region with a series of meetings held this week.

Over 50 Llansannan locals met with their MP to discuss the cuts last Wednesday, and Ruthin residents will be gathering next Friday  to launch their own campaign.

"This was a demonstration of public concern over the threatened loss of the village’s post office branch. Many residents were concerned at the effect the plans would have upon elderly and infirm local people" said Clwyd West MP David Jones, who called the Llansannan meeting.

"The Government’s closure programme is causing considerable worry to a large number of people who depend upon these important local services. I will be making my formal representations to Post Office Limited next week and urge all local residents who are concerned about the plans to submit their objections, too"

Earlier this year Your Vale reported on government proposals to slash the number of post offices across North Wales by as much as 2,500, including six sites in the Vale of Clwyd. Under the plans, which were unveiled in July, as many as one in five offices in the region face closure.

"We believe these proposals offer the best prospect for a sustainable way forward for Post Office services in North Wales, bearing in mind the minimum access criteria and the other factors which we have to consider" said Steve Geraty, the Post Office’s Network Development Manager for North Wales"

The next community meeting to discuss Post Office closures will be held at the Llanfwrog Community Centre, in Ruthin, for the town’s residents to air the views on the proposed closure of another office on Denbigh Road

A number of local politicians and a representative from the Post Office are expected to attend the meeting, which begins at 7pm on September 5.