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44 post office branches to close 44 post office branches to close
(about 6 hours later)
Forty four Post Office branches are to close across south and west Wales as part of plans to cut the UK total by 2,500, it has been announced.Forty four Post Office branches are to close across south and west Wales as part of plans to cut the UK total by 2,500, it has been announced.
Post Office Ltd said 12 of these will be replaced by an outreach service - a mobile post office which visits areas.Post Office Ltd said 12 of these will be replaced by an outreach service - a mobile post office which visits areas.
Two branches which had been earmarked for closure - Carnglas Road in Swansea and Leonard Street, Neath - will stay open after a public consultation.Two branches which had been earmarked for closure - Carnglas Road in Swansea and Leonard Street, Neath - will stay open after a public consultation.
Instead, the Lone Road branch in Clydach, Swansea could close.Instead, the Lone Road branch in Clydach, Swansea could close.
A six-week period of local consultation into that proposed closure will start shortly.A six-week period of local consultation into that proposed closure will start shortly.
A further 12 branches in the area are still being reviewed and a decision on their futures will be made at a later date. CLOSURE LIST Aberavon: Abergwynfi, Cymmer Afan, Jersey MarineBridgend: Coychurch, PenyfaiCarmarthen East and Dinefwr: Blaenau, Cwmann, Llansaint, Saron, Tirydail, Penally, TempletonGower: Garnswllt, ParkmillLlanelli: Achddu, Mynydd-y-Garreg, Thomas Street, Upper TumbleNeath: Aberdulais, Cwmgors, Maesyffynon, Neath AbbeyOgmore:Bryncethin, Commercial Street, Heol-Y-Cyw, WyndhamPreseli Pembrokeshire: Albert Town, Little Haven, Llanychaer, Llwyndrain, Tiers CrossSwansea West: Gors AvenueA further 12 branches in the area are still being reviewed and a decision on their futures will be made at a later date. CLOSURE LIST Aberavon: Abergwynfi, Cymmer Afan, Jersey MarineBridgend: Coychurch, PenyfaiCarmarthen East and Dinefwr: Blaenau, Cwmann, Llansaint, Saron, Tirydail, Penally, TempletonGower: Garnswllt, ParkmillLlanelli: Achddu, Mynydd-y-Garreg, Thomas Street, Upper TumbleNeath: Aberdulais, Cwmgors, Maesyffynon, Neath AbbeyOgmore:Bryncethin, Commercial Street, Heol-Y-Cyw, WyndhamPreseli Pembrokeshire: Albert Town, Little Haven, Llanychaer, Llwyndrain, Tiers CrossSwansea West: Gors Avenue
Managers say a total of 291 branches will remain in south and west Wales and 99.4% of the area's population will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.Managers say a total of 291 branches will remain in south and west Wales and 99.4% of the area's population will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.
Steve Geraty, Post Office Ltd's network development manager for Wales, said the decision to close the branches had been "difficult" and had "not been taken lightly".Steve Geraty, Post Office Ltd's network development manager for Wales, said the decision to close the branches had been "difficult" and had "not been taken lightly".
"We need to look at the future and the long term viability of all the remaining branches in this area, especially those in Carnglas Road in Swansea and Leonard Street in Neath," he said."We need to look at the future and the long term viability of all the remaining branches in this area, especially those in Carnglas Road in Swansea and Leonard Street in Neath," he said.
"I would therefore like to appeal to all customers and businesses to support their local branch and make it the first point of call for all business.""I would therefore like to appeal to all customers and businesses to support their local branch and make it the first point of call for all business."
But Bethan Jenkins, Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West, who has attended some of the consultation meetings in her area said she believed Post Office Ltd's claim that most people would not be affected by the changes was "optimistic". But Bethan Jenkins, South Wales West AM, believed Post Office Ltd's claim that most people would not be affected by the changes was "optimistic".
"They don't seem to have taken into consideration the area's geography and its transport infrastructure and the ability for elderly people and disabled people to get to an alternate branch," she said."They don't seem to have taken into consideration the area's geography and its transport infrastructure and the ability for elderly people and disabled people to get to an alternate branch," she said.
"To get from Neath Abbey to Skewen, you have to go up a massive hill and they haven't taken that into account. Also there's nowhere to park there if you do drive and it will cost more money for elderly people to get there to pick up their pension, which is minimal. BRANCHES TO BE OUTREACHED Carmarthenshire: Blaenwaun, Llanpumsaint, Llansteffan, Nantgaredig, Rhandirmwyn, TavernspitePembrokeshire: Clarbeston Road, Eglwyswrw, Mathry, Milton, Spittal, St Ishmaels "To get from Neath Abbey to Skewen, you have to go up a massive hill and they haven't taken that into account."
"These might be small things to people in government but massive to people on the ground trying to make ends meet." BRANCHES TO BE OUTREACHED Carmarthenshire: Blaenwaun, Llanpumsaint, Llansteffan, Nantgaredig, Rhandirmwyn, TavernspitePembrokeshire: Clarbeston Road, Eglwyswrw, Mathry, Milton, Spittal, St Ishmaels
Neath AM Gwenda Thomas said she was disappointed at the closure of four branches in her area but pleased the Post Office has listened to the "strong case" to keep the Leonard Street branch open.
She said the closures would hit residents "who are most vulnerable" and who can least afford transport costs to the alternatives.
Post Office Ltd said the first closures will take place next month with all changes expected to be completed by the autumn.Post Office Ltd said the first closures will take place next month with all changes expected to be completed by the autumn.
The announcement follows a six-week public consultation, during which it was agreed to keep open the branches in Carnglas Road and Leonard Street because of concerns raised about the potential impact on elderly people and adequacy of local public transport.The announcement follows a six-week public consultation, during which it was agreed to keep open the branches in Carnglas Road and Leonard Street because of concerns raised about the potential impact on elderly people and adequacy of local public transport.
The 12 branches which are still being reviewed are: Brechfa, Bwlchygroes, Dryslwyn, Ewenny, Gorslas, Llanboidy, Llanwrda, Prendergast, Rhydcymerau, Swiss Valley Park, Talog and Trelech.The 12 branches which are still being reviewed are: Brechfa, Bwlchygroes, Dryslwyn, Ewenny, Gorslas, Llanboidy, Llanwrda, Prendergast, Rhydcymerau, Swiss Valley Park, Talog and Trelech.
The closure will be part of a programme of 2,500 across the UK announced last May because of mounting financial losses and falling customer numbers.The closure will be part of a programme of 2,500 across the UK announced last May because of mounting financial losses and falling customer numbers.