Continuing Post Office temporary closure must be resolved

12.00.00am GMT Mon 15th Dec 2008

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black, has called on Post Office Counters to quickly bring to an end the continuing temporary closure of Sketty Park Post Office

The Post Office has been closed for a number of months following an internal enquiry but despite assurances that a temporary Postmaster will be put in so as to resume service for local customers nothing has happened. Peter Black has been in touch with Post Office Counters on a number of occasions in response to queries from constituents and local Councillors and yet the situation appears to be still a long way from being resolved.

"The temporary closure of this branch has hit the elderly, mothers with young children and more vulnerable customers particularly badly," said Mr. Black. "In many cases they have been forced to travel quite some distance to access Post Office services. In other instances they have not been able to make this journey and have had to do without. That cannot be allowed to continue."

"This Post Office survived one closure attempt because a social need was established for it. My fear is that as this affair drags out then its closure may become permanent and that would be unacceptable. We really need some action now to get a Post Office service into Sketty Park, even if it is a mobile service, as a stop gap before a permanent solution is found."