POSTAL services in Gwynedd are at “crisis point” after the Post Office confirmed the “unplanned closure” of another branch. The High Street branch in Criccieth will shut at the end of January.
A Post Office letter stated that the closure was due to a resignation of the Postmaster and subsequent loss of the use of the building and that the position was now being advertised.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts said the closure would not just affect Criccieth as the Postmaster runs a mobile van service for around 25 communities across Gwynedd and the Llŷn Peninsula. Mrs Sville Robers said communitesd are now “bearing the brunt of serious failings in the strategic planning and delivery of Post Office services”. The Criccieth closure follows announcements recently that the future of the Crown Post Office in Caernarfon was also under threat.
The Post Office, in a letter explained why the Criccieth branch was closing: “…regrettably, following the resignation of the postmaster and the withdrawal of the premises for Post Office use”. The High Street branch would be closing at 5.30pm, on Friday January 31.
“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.
“We would welcome any applications from potential retail partners interested in running a branch locally on our behalf.
“The vacancy is currently being advertised on our website www.runapostoffice.co.uk and applications will be carefully considered. If you are aware of any interested parties, please do share the link with them,” the Post Office stated.
Mrs Saville Roberts said the closure would make life harder for those living in rural communities: “The closure of Criccieth Post Office has implications beyond the town itself as the current Postmaster also operates a weekly mobile outreach and van service to a total of twenty-five communities across Gwynedd.
“There also remains no Post Office service in Nefyn which closed partly because staff no longer had faith in the computer systems following the fallout from the Horizon scandal. “
Mrs Saville Roberts, who raised these matters with former Minister Kevin Hollinrake prior to the general election, has called on the new Labour government to ensure the Post Office does not put profit before the needs of rural communities.
She said: “This is yet another blow to our rural communities coming only a week or so since the Post Office announced their Caernarfon branch was under threat.
“Rural branches such as Criccieth serve a much wider area than the town itself and considering the widespread closure of other face-to-face banking services, the need to maintain a Post office presence is vitally important.
“Given that the Post Office has a commitment to ensure that 95% of the total rural population is within three miles of a Post Office outlet, and that 95% of the population of every postcode district is within six miles of an outlet, I want to know how the Post Office proposes to maintain both these commitments in light of the closure of the Criccieth branch.
“I also seek clarity on the future provision of mobile outreach services to communities currently served by the Criccieth Postmaster.
“This service is a lifeline to many communities within my constituency, enabling people to access Post Office services close to home. Twenty-five communities across Meirionnydd, Dwyfor, and Arfon currently benefit from this mobile service, yet there is no certainty that this will remain the case once the Criccieth branch closes.
“People who rely on these services, particularly the elderly and those without transport, need certainty that these services will still be there for them come the new year.
“What has become increasingly apparent is that the reputational damage inflicted upon the Post Office following the Horizon scandal is resulting in an accelerated deterioration in access to services for people living in an increasing number of communities.
“I have every sympathy with business owners who find themselves in a position where it is no longer in their own best personal or financial interests to continue to provide a Post Office service.
“Many have been shaken by the Horizon scandal, with distrust a significant factor in the reluctance of many to take over the running of services. This, in addition to UK government decisions over several years to cut back on the number of public services provided at Post Office counters.
“The Post Office is first and foremost a public service, yet there seems to be little in the way of public engagement or strategic planning where branches need to be guaranteed.
“Scant consideration is given to local factors such as access to public transport, digital poverty in rural areas or the specific needs of our Welsh-speaking communities.
“At a time when the Post Office’s main priority should be to restore trust and public confidence, they seem intent on making life harder for their loyal customers.”
The Post Office was contacted for comment.