A Plaid Cymru Senedd Member has said it is disappointing that plans to reinstate postal services in a Blaenau Gwent community have taken a “backward step.”
Peredur Owen Griffiths MS has received a letter from the Post Office to say the proposed new postmaster has pulled out of plans to take over services for the Cefn Golau area.
Post Office services ceased suddenly in the area at the beginning of the month with the resignation of the postmaster. Peredur immediately wrote to the Post Office to seek assurances that they would be doing everything in their power to restart services for Cefn Golau.
In the latest letter to Mr Owen Griffiths, Post Office consultation manager Leonard P Harbin said: ‘Further to our recent letter regarding Cefn Golau Post Office, I am writing to update you that, unfortunately the proposed new postmaster has decided not to progress further with their application.
‘The provision of a Post Office service to our customers in the local community is important to us and we will continue to work hard to restore services in the area as soon as possible. We would welcome any applications from potential retail partners interested in running a branch locally on our behalf.’
He added: ‘I would like to assure you that we are working hard to keep any period of closure to a minimum and we are currently investigating the options available which will enable us to reinstate a Post Office service to the local community. In exploring this, it is important that any future service is sustainable for the person operating the service, and for Post Office Limited.’
In response, Peredur said: “It is disappointing that efforts to ensure post office services return to Cefn Golau have taken a backward step. I, and many others, were hopeful that a Post Office service would resume swiftly for the people of Cefn Golau.
“I encourage anyone interested in taking on this vital community service to register their interest with the Post Office as soon as possible through the website www.runapostoffice.co.uk.
“For so many people, especially those not comfortable with doing things online, the post office is an essential service and provides a lifeline to the world outside. I hope efforts to attract someone to run Post Office services in Cefn Golau pay off soon.”
If you want to support Plaid Cymru and Peredur, please click this link.
Showing 1 reaction