Post Office Roulette
Scarcely has the news on the future security of Tremont Road (Llandrindod Wells) and Pendre (Brecon) Post Offices sunk in when we are fighting for proper services for two other Post Offices – Berriew (Montgomeryshire) and Llanbister (Radnorshire).
The way that this consultation operates is totally unsatisfactory. I am against any downgrading of what is an excellent service, but to find that when Post Offices are saved the Post Office Network looks elsewhere for another Post Office to pick on is, I think, horrific. It is a sort of combination of Russian Roulette, Blind Man’s Buff and Pass the Parcel (no pun intended). Penparc (Ceredigion) was picked on in this way. Government representatives wring their hands and express opposition but still there doesn’t seem to be any pressure being put on Westminster to save these Post Offices, and Labour MPs, with very few exceptions (Paul Flynn was one) voted against an amendment which would have saved these Post Offices. Meanwhile Labour and Plaid are sitting on their hands in terms of the Post Office Development Fund in Cardiff whilst Post Offices close up and down Wales. It is not an impressive sight, and both the government at Westminster and the government in Cardiff do not come out of it untainted.
