Post Office Closure Programme in Monmouthshire| "Village Post Office network close to the end"

12.00.00am GMT Tue 15th Jan 2008

Severn further community post offices in Monmouthshire will close under plans announced today by Post Office Limited. The plans were described by a leading member of the National Assembly for Wales as "a hammer blow for local communities and is bringing an end of a national post office network ever closer."

Post Office Limited is reviewing their network of local community Post Offices under instruction from the Westminster Government to close 2,500 branches across the country.

Local campaigners in Monmouthshire described the proposals as "axing the network of village post offices to the point that the only access will be driving into the major towns of the County."

Michael German, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Wales, speaking from the National Assembly described the proposals "as worse than expected". He said that, "under these plans there will be no local post office between Monmouth and Chepstow in the Wye Valley, none operating between Chepstow and Usk, and only one between Monmouth and Abergavenny at Raglan. This will cause further harm to local communities and increase the need for people to jump in their cars to the nearest town."

Tintern and Devauden Post offices are earmarked for closure and to be replaced with a visiting van service for both villages for two half-days a weeks.

One campaigner against Post offices closures, Rev. Martin Blakebrough, whose wife Debbie, worked at the Tintern Post office, said "The Labour government are completely indifferent to the needs of the countryside. The Post office proposed to give us six hours of services a week from a van to be parked in a lay-by of a busy main road in Tintern, which has already been identified as dangerous. Their idea for a 'van service', for two mornings a week falls far short of the service we expect."

In Mathern, the Post Office will close with no replacement visiting outreach service. Local village resident, Janet Ellard reacting to the news said, "This really is sad news for the village. It now means that people will have to get in their cars and drive to Chepstow, already adding to the congestion in the town. "

Recent temporary closures of post offices in Monmouthshire has seen protests and campaigns to see branches being re-opened. Last year, the news that Bulwark post office in Chepstow resulted in hundreds of signatures being collected demanding an immediate re-opening.

Phil Hobson, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Monmouthshire, who has campaigned on post office closures said that, "It was a relief to see that Bulwark was to remain open. However we are seeing the comprehensive closing down of the post office network across Monmouthshire. There will be no Post offices open between Chepstow and Monmouth and Usk. When a village post offices goes, the local shop usually goes with it."

The Government has systemically taken business away from the Post office network and has ensured that local community post offices wither away and die out. They have no plan or vision for the future post office. At this rate of closures, soon there will only be Post Offices in major towns."

"Labour has caused this mess by their own actions by driving local branches into financial despair: sub postmasters have had to just sit and see their business reduce and reduce with no real interest or concern from the Government responsible for the results of their plans."

The remaining Post office network for Monmouthshire will see Post Offices remain at Chepstow, Bulwark, Abergavenny, Caerwent, Caldicot, Gilwern, Grosmont, Llanfoist, Llangattock Lingoed, Llangybi, Mardy, Overmonnow, The Bryn, Rogiet, Fforest Coalpit, Usk, West End (Caldicot), Magor with outreach services for two half days a week at Davauden and Tintern.

The Public consultation will now last for six weeks and Post Office limited will seek views on the proposed future of the network and closures in Gwent. Local Post offices are due to close from April 2008 onwards.