Neath loses a fifth of its post offices under Labour

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 29th Apr 2007

Figures released by Liberal Democrat researchers show that, of 42 post offices in the Neath constituency in 1999, only 32 remained in 2006.

This is a cut of around 24%, and does not take account of the further 300 Welsh post offices believed to be under threat in a review which the Labour government has deferred until after this week's election.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Menzies Campbell has demanded that the Government immediately come clean on its proposals so that the voters could judge them at the ballot box on 3rd May.

Sheila Waye, Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate for Neath says: "Communities in Neath depend on their local post office. It is shameful that Neath has suffered more than most from post office closures. Instead of closing more, the

Government should not only retain the existing network but also expand its facilities, for instance by providing free-to-use ATMs (cash dispensers)."

She added: "Nor should voters trust the Conservatives' promises at this election. The last Conservative government closed 3500 post offices. Only the Liberal Democrats, with their record of sustaining local communities, can be trusted with the post office network."