Post Office closure slated

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/s ... slated.php

PLANS to press ahead with the closure of a Gwent post office and move the service to WH Smith were branded "ridiculous"by a local councillor.

Customers are being treated as an afterthought by the Post Office according to Cwmbran pensioner and local community councillor Vic Clayton.

He attacked the company's plans to shut its main branch in Cwmbran.

Today the company confirmed the closure will definitely go ahead, despite the fact a formal consultation has yet to take place.

A spokesman for the Post Office said: "This is a business decision and the changes will be going ahead."

He added that consultation with community bodies was needed to take on board any concerns about the plans.

The main Post Office branch is closing in Caerphilly in October, with services being transferred to WHSmith in a similar scheme.

In all 70 branches across the UK will be transferred.

The Post Office spokesman said the Cwmbran transfer, with services moving to WH Smith in South Walk, will definitely go ahead by the end of next summer.

The company says it is making the changes to become more cost effect.

But Mr Clayton, 67, from Oakfield slammed the move.

"Every time I go past there the queue is almost to the door," he said.

"It seems ridiculous that they are going to do this and it certainly isn't putting customers first.

"I have serious concerns about how WH Smith will cope with the volume of customers.

"I know this is a major worry for a lot of older people in the town - it's been raised many times with myself."

The Post Office said consultations will start as "soon as practicably possible".

A spokesman added: "In partnership with us, WH Smith will continue to provide the high standard of service and range of products currently available at our Post Office Branches."

1:55pm today

[Stormproof]

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/campaigns/ ... age_id=508

[wakkono]

i might be wrong and prob get shot for posting this but i think the staff at the post office in question didnt support the recent strikes whilst other crown offices in the area who are currently not under threat supported it 100 %