More post offices axed

Two weeks ago, the Argus revealed that 16 urban post offices in Gwent face closure following a period where the public can have their say.

But the Post Office has now announced that three offices which have been through their consultation period will close by the end of December.

Croesyceiliog Post Office, on The Highway, Cwmbran, will close on December 31, Royal Oak Post Office, on Chepstow Road, Newport, will close on December 30, and Llantarnam Post Office, on Newport Road, Cwmbran, will close on December 9.

No decision has yet been made on Greenwillows Post Office in Cwmbran, which was also under consultation and which was the focus of protests by residents.

But the closures are bleak news for those planning to campaign to keep the 16 branches currently in consultation around Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Newport, and Torfaen open.

And the Post Office will look at their networks in the Islwyn and Caerphilly wards in the New Year.

Dave Barrett, head of the commercial urban network in Wales, said: "We have received a number of comments from customers and local representatives during the consultation period.

"Few comments were received in Llantarnam and taking into account the overall branch resources in the area, we have decided that permanent closure of Llantarnam is the correct action to take.

"The main concerns regarding Croesyceiliog and Royal Oak were about the convenience of alternative branches and the possible effect of the proposed closure on elderly customers within the local community.

"While we fully appreciate that using a different branch a little further away will be a major change for some, we have carefully considered the local terrain.

"The harsh reality is that many urban offices are struggling to survive because there are too many branches for the amount of business. But even after the Network Reinvention programme is fully implemented 95 per cent of our customers will live within a mile of their nearest post office."