Local Post Offices face uncertain future after Labour closure decision

10.51.40am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th May 2007

Peter Black and Helen Ceri Clarke at a local Post Office

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black, has warned that many Post Offices in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend face closure, following an announcement by the Labour Trade and Industry Secretary, that he will be pursuing the axing of 2,500 offices across the UK.

Mr. Black was speaking after it was revealed that Government Ministers will tell Parliament today that they are to press ahead with their plans to restructure the Post Office network. The closure programme will hit both rural and urban offices but it is feared that in Wales, where the majority of the land mass is categorised as rural, the impact will be very severe indeed.

"The number of Post Offices in Wales has declined from 1,607 in 1995 to 1,402 in 1999 and 1,195 today," said Mr. Black. "Across South Wales West we have lost 52 Post Offices since 1999, 20 in Neath Port Talbot, 10 in Bridgend and 22 in Swansea. These closures have caused problems for many communities. Further cuts in the network will leave many vulnerable people stranded and undermine the economy of those local communities that are affected."

"If, instead of initiating a further round of cuts, the Government were to adopt Liberal Democrats plans for the Post Office then they would be able to invest an additional two billion pounds in the network and safeguard the future of local offices for years to come. Those plans would also retain the Post Office card account for benefit and pension payments and put in place a legal requirement for the Government to retain the local Post Office network. It is these sort of positive measures we need, not more cuts."