Contact/Cyswllt:  Paul Harding
01686 625527 / 07708 147127

Lembit Öpik MP and Mick Bates AM have expressed their disappointment following the news that eight local Post Offices are earmarked for closure.

Both Lembit and Mick are appalled by the pressure placed upon local services. The local Post office needs to have a sustainable future and that is why Lembit and Mick have worked closely with the County Times on a campaign to retain them.

Closure of the Post Offices will inevitably result in lost business to the shops. Mick says: “Post Office Ltd is responsible for weakening businesses and undermining services in our communities.”

Lembit and Mick are calling upon the Government and Post Office Ltd to bring more business to the counter and ensure a sustainable future for Post Offices.

Lembit describes the Post Office closure plan an accountants’ charter not a people’s policy. He said:

“I have been taken through the figures which cause the Post office to propose this closure, and the replacement of the services by a mobile facility. I do understand this closure plan has been forced upon them by a Government which doesn’t value the social benefit of Post Offices. I nevertheless feel that the closure of Abermule and others is so wrong. We must work hard to get them to think again. Abermule, for example is a growing and expanding village. The convenience of a Post office enables reduced travelling and increased turnover local economy. As far as I’m concerned if we close it now, we’ll only have to open it again later. Let’s have an injection of common sense here and prevent a closure which will have to be reversed when Abermule gets bigger anyway.”


Mick added: “I am really disappointed that these Post Offices are closing, locals will be forced to travel to a Post Office now and for those without transport of their own it will be massively inconvenient.

“I am a firm believer that Post Offices, especially those in rural areas such as Berriew, Carno, Castle Caereinion, Llanbynmair, Trefeg, Sarn and Abermule are vital to the local community.”


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