Kirsty Williams AM

MP & AM angered at devastating loss of 14 Post offices in Brecon & Radnorshire

The Post Office Ltd has today announced that 6 Post Offices in Brecon & Radnorshire have been earmarked for closure with a further 8 to be replaced by 'outreach' services, including the use of a mobile service van or a hosted service in the local village hall.

The Post offices proposed for closure are: Llanfaes and Pendre in Brecon; Ridgebourne and Tremont Road in Llandrindod Wells; Evenjobb near Presteigne; Cwmgiedd near Ystradgynlais

The Post Offices proposed for an outreach service are: Erwood; Gladestry; Llanbister; Llandefaelogfach; Llanwrtyd Wells; Llyswen; Mertyr Cynog; Pantydwr.

Roger Williams MP for Brecon and Radnorshire said:

"These shattering announcements come as a result of the pressures of a Government which does not understand the social and economic value of Post Offices to our local communities. The assault on our Post office network harks back to the large scale shut-down of our rail network under the Conservatives. The Labour government does not seem to have learnt its lesson from this disaster and once again profit is being placed ahead of social function and individual's right to access good local services.

"For some communities it will mean a double loss of service as the closure of the post office is likely to affect accompanying shops and businesses, such as in Erwood and Cwmgiedd. For those earmarked for an outreach service they may have escaped total loss of service but they are to see radically reduced hours which for many will be inconvenient and as good as closure.

"Over the past months I have supported post masters and mistresses and residents across B&R in the united fight to save our post offices. The Government's over-complicated consultation was not conducive to responses from the public and so Kirsty Williams and I produced a more accessible consultation. Last year I took the 200 plus responses along with around 2000 named petitions to the Minister in London.

"B & R has been more vocal in its fight to save our post offices than any other constituency in the UK and we are therefore well placed to continue the fight as a united front.

"Later today I will be delivering over 2000 campaign post cards to 10 Downing Street in a call upon the Prime Minister to take action to reverse this attack on our local communities. Kirsty Williams and I will be meeting with all affected Town and Community Councils in order to build up individual cases against each of the proposed closures."

Kirsty Williams AM for Brecon & Radnorshire said:

"This news is devastating for the communities affected. Post offices are an essential part in maintaining and strengthening our local communities and a focal point for social interaction.

"B & R has been severely hit in this latest onslaught on our local services and whilst urban deprivation was considered in the Post Office Ltd's consultation process, rural deprivation was not. This is a telling view of the Labour Government's continued ignorance of the difficulties of rural areas.

"Brecon Post office already struggles to meet its customer demand and with the closure of the two other post offices in the town I fear it will further struggle with the resultant increased pressure. It is ridiculous that chiefs in London are dictating these changes without real local knowledge.

"It is the economically disadvantaged and vulnerable who will be most seriously affected by these announcements. The elderly, who are often reliant upon our poor public transport network in Powys, will be stranded and isolated from services, facilities and social interaction.

"People will now have to travel further in their cars and will not be spending their money in their local communities; this flies in the face of stated Government policy for the development of Sustainable Communities and environmental concerns."

Notes:

Post offices proposed for closure:

• Llanfaes and Pendre in Brecon;
• Ridgebourne and Tremont Road in Llandrindod Wells;
• Evenjobb near Presteigne
• Cwmgiedd near Ystradgynlais

Post Offices proposed for an outreach service:

• Erwood - Mobile Service, 4 hours per week
• Gladestry - Hosted Service in Village hall, 2 hours per week
• Llanbister - Hosted Service in Village hall, 4 hours per week
• Llandefaelogfach, Pwllgloyw - Mobile Service, 2 hours per week
• Llanwrtyd Wells - Mobile Service, 9 hours per week
• Llyswen - Mobile Service, 9 hours per week
• Mertyr Cynog - Mobile Service, 2 hours per week
• Pantydwr - Hosted Service in Village hall, 2 hours per week

Between 1979 and 1997 the Conservative shut 3542 Post Offices across the UK.

Since 1997 Labour have closed over 4000 Post Offices, with a further 2500 set to close.

Politicians were given forward warning of the announcement by Post Office Ltd and were asked not to make this public. Kirsty Williams AM and Roger Williams MP agreed to respect this confidentiality, but others have broken their assurances to Post Office Ltd by making the news public.