Review fails to save post offices

The closures follow a further review by senior Post Office managers.

The Post Office is to close 11 out of 12 branches that were subject to a further review as part of its cuts to the network in south and west Wales.

Five will shut outright while six will be replaced by mobile services.

Only two of 40 branches earmarked for closure in June have been saved so far after consultation - Carnglas Road, Swansea and Leonard Street, Neath.

The Post Office admitted closure decisions would often be unpopular but said it had to stabilise its network.

Watchdog body Postwatch Wales had asked the Post Office to look again at 12 branches on the closure list.

Around 40 branches in the area are expected to close in the coming weeks although a decision has yet to be made on two.

Following an initial six week consultation Postwatch asked the company to further review the fate of 12 branches on the list.

Five - Bwlchygroes, Ewenny, Gorslas, Prendergast and Swiss Valley Park are to close.

Six -Brechfa, Llanboidy, Llanwrda, Rhydcymerau, Talog and Trelech are to be replaced by a mobile outreach service.

The proposal for an outreach service at Dryslwyn is in the process of a further review.

The future of the Lone Road branch in Clydach is also under discussion.

They have had no regard whatsoever to their own guidelines on issues such as the lack of other retail facilities and access to cash services Meryl Gravell, Carmarthenshire Council

Eifion Pritchard, regional chair of Postwatch Wales, said: "We were not able to persuade Post Office Ltd to keep these branches open or to provide alternative partner services where requested.

"We put the case, based on relevant local customer factors.

"The final decision rests with Post Office Ltd, Postwatch does not have a veto over this."

Twenty four of the branches are in Carmarthenshire.

County council leader Meryl Gravell branded the consultation exercise "a sham".

"They have had no regard whatsoever to their own guidelines on issues such as the lack of other retail facilities and access to cash services," she said.

"In the case of Brechfa, for example, they acknowledge that the post office and shop also provides other important services for local people - such as the opportunity to collect prescriptions.

"The nearest post office is seven miles away and the nearest ATM 12 miles away."

Steve Geraty, Post Office Ltd's network development manager said the changes were part of a plans to cut the UK network by 2,500.

"We appreciate that any decision to close a post office branch will often be unpopular," he said.

"Nevertheless, we have to make decisions to close branches in order to put the network on a more stable footing for the future and achieve this in a way which best meets the demands and concerns of customers."