A GOVERNMENT minister is to investigate claims that Post Office chiefs failed to follow legal guidelines over plans to close branches in Blaenau Gwent.

Protesters allege the Post Office did not observe Department of Trade and Industry guidelines during the consultation process over the proposed closures.

The Post Office denies this, but the minister responsible for Post Offices, Stephen Timms, is to look into the claims, after meeting eight county councillors at Westminster.

Blaenau Gwent councillor Don Wilcox told the minister that DTI rules state that representatives of the Post Office must meet local councils, MPs and community groups during the consultation period - but they failed to do this, and turned down numerous invitations to meet concerned communities in Blaenau Gwent.

Councillor Wilcox told the Argus: "We put up a good case. We expressed our dissatisfaction with the way the Post Office had consulted and how Postwatch was an apologist for the Post Office and said that the whole process should be stopped until more research can be done."

Mr Timms said he would now meet with the Post Office over whether the consultation was properly carried out.

We revealed in November that the Post Office planned to close 16 Gwent branches - seven in Blaenau Gwent.

Beaufort Hill, Garnlydan, Badminton, Rassau, Willowtown, Waunlwyd and Cefyn Golau are all scheduled for closure but after angry demonstrations the public consultation period locally was extended from December 16 to January 6. A decision is expected in February.

A spokesman for Post Office Ltd said he believed DTI guidelines were followed.

He said: "During the consultation period in Blaenau Gwent we met with the local council and we also met with MP Llew Smith, AM Peter Law and representatives of the local community at the Welsh Assembly.

"In fact we probably met with more people in Blaenau Gwent than anywhere else in Wales."