PO campaigners are confident of success (From South Wales Guardian)

PO campaigners are confident of success

10:11am Wednesday 11th June 2008

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PEOPLE IN the Llanwrda area are drawing up a battle plan to save their post office.

At a meeting in the village hall on Friday, local councillors and residents will tell the Post Office: "You've got it completely wrong."

The protest meeting, organised by the community councillors and the Llanwrda Post Office Action Group comes after the company announced its intention to close Llanwrda post office.

MP Adam Price and a representative from Postwatch Wales will join the group, with representatives from Post Office Ltd.

Martin Watts, chairman of Llanwrda Community Council said: "The Post Office has underestimated the level of hardship which would result and have vastly underestimated the number of people affected.

"Their area plan says the population is just 274. We will be showing very clearly that they have got their numbers wrong and must think again."

David Darrell co-chair of the action group, said: "Llanwrda's postcode area covers 19 square miles. If there were only 274 people here, we would all own four homes!"

Campaigners are accusing the Post Office of "trying to steal Llanwrda's economic and social future". Posters in the area depict Llanwrda as a graveyard.

Mr Darrell added that post offices at Caio, Porthryd and Llansadwrn had already closed.

The Reverend Adrian Legg said: "People feel they have been excluded from the decision-making process and have not even been consulted.

"Our local economy and people's welfare depend on having a shop and post office. The real tragedy is that closure will bring enormous suffering to vulnerable people."

Llanwrda postmistress Laura Cook, 27, said: "I have been overwhelmed by the support from residents, but I am gravely concerned at the distress this decision has caused to many of our customers.

"In my job, you realise the difficulty people have in their day-to-day lives and you do all you can to help.

"I am optimistic that the company will change its mind once it hears people's stories, sees at first hand the unique local situation and learns the full extent of the area we cover."

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