Barry Crown post office campaign continues
BARRY Town Council will discuss Post Office proposals to close the crown branch on Holton Road at a full council meeting on Monday.
Buttrills councillor Ian Johnson, and Baruc councillors Nic Hodges, Shirley Hodges and Steffan Wiliam have tabled a motion calling on the town council to condemn the plans.
Post Office Ltd, which was privatised by the Conservative government, have announced that the current crown post office on Barry’s Holton Road will close, but say they want nearby businesses to think about taking on services.
Plaid councillors have asked the Vale council, opposite the current crown post office, to consider taking on post office services if no other operators can be found.
Plaid Cllr Johnson said: “It is very disappointing that the privatised Post Office Ltd are putting profits before people by closing Barry’s only crown post office.
"Plaid Cymru has tabled this motion to Barry Town council so that all councillors can have their say and condemn this decision.
“We want to see these services continue to be provided in Barry, and are concerned that people in the town will miss out if there is no crown post office.
“If Post Office Ltd are unable to find an alternative operator somewhere else in Barry then we think that the Vale of Glamorgan should consider stepping in by hosting this at the civic offices. It is in an appropriate location, opposite the current crown post office, has disabled access and has good facilities.”
Meanwhile, Vale AM Jane Hutt has said nearly 2000 people have, so far, signed her petition objecting to the closure on behalf of the people of Barry, the customers and the local business community.
She said: “It is simply unacceptable for the Post Office to close our Barry town crown post office, which needs to remain in the heart and centre of the town.”
In her bid to keep Barry crown post office open, she recently held a meeting with the Communication Workers Union, staff at Barry crown post office and Stuart Taylor, of the external relations department of the Post Office.