Today I conducted the first of an extensive three-part interview with Colin, the Post Master. Here, in part one, he talks about those who will be hit by the proposed closure; the crucial role the post office plays in terms of community spirit; the town's regeneration plan and also the gains non-locals get from the Swan Street premises.
If your post office closes down who will suffer?
Basically it will be the people of Llantrisant and the businesses because they will have to start planning their 'assault' on other offices.
How many businesses are there in Llantrisant?
There are approximately 30 although that doesn't include the ones on the business park - I have three regular customers there (Buy As You View, All Print and Malpas).
So closure would impact on small business up here in the town because in one way or another they use me for banking, posting, postage and bills.
There's a large elderly population in Llantrisant too. How will they be affected by a possible closure?
A lot of them have said they'd have to have their money paid directly into a bank account, which they don't want because although they have bank accounts, they use their pension money separately, it's purely for their everyday cash.
The post office is the only access they have to getting cash without having to go down to the banks in Talbot Green. There's no longer a cash machine up here - the one we did have, at the Bear Inn, was taken out two months ago.
Then there's the Hill Factor.
Yes, the hill factor! Closure would mean a lot of old people would have to get the bus but even when they get off the bus the options are, if they go to Penygawsi Post Office, are difficult. They've still got to firstly descend, then ascend, quite a steep hill
They've then got to cross a road which, at the best of times, is not the easiest. As one of my customers, a relatively young woman put it, you've got to be an Olympic athlete to cross it because traffic comes at you in three directions - and one of them is a blind spot! You just don't know what's round the corner.
Are the buses frequent?
Up through Llantrisant town itself we have three a day. The last bus through is approximately 12.50pm. After that if you haven't got out of town, so to speak, then you've literally got to walk either by the parish office, where there's a bus stop, or the Wheat Sheaf, assuming you want to go down to Talbot Green.
There are more buses going that way on the Pontyrpidd route but there are only three buses a day which come up through the site. However, they don't do the whole site because of traffic congestion on the common road. So there is still an area of Llantrisant which is isolated and that isolation is Hafod Housing Association houses and the old age complex - the very ones that need a public service.
What about the impact closure would have on the prestige and community spirit of Llantrisant?
I think everybody knows that a post office isn't just a post office anymore, it's a community centre as well. People come in and they meet others.
Even if someone is missing for a week someone will ask: 'Has anybody seen them?'
For example, at one time a customer wasn't seen for a couple of weeks so we sent the Police 'round to his house. Fortunately he was OK on that occasion, but the fact that he was an elderly gentleman on his own, with no-one visiting...it's things like that which matter. People meet others here in Swan Street that they might not see any other time.
What about you, what was your reaction when you heard that the Post Office had earmarked your shop for closure?
I was shocked and I don't think it's really sunk in yet. I don't think it will sink in until the final decison has been made. Heaven forbid it doesn't close but if it does I think it will be the equivalent of ripping the heart out of the town. Everywhere has got a heart somewhere along the line and for that to go...
There is a major regeneration of the town going ahead, we've seen that with the start to the castle - that's been cleared ready for a major archaeological dig. And Rhondda Cynon Taf are putting money into the town so it would be a shame for this office to go.
It's not just locals who benefit from your post office is it?
No, the amount of tourists that come up here in the summer months, in particular, is a lot. If they buy cards or presents they want someone to post them back to and they like to post them through the places that they've been to.
The ripples that emanate from your post office are incredible aren't they?
Yes, it's not only tourists. Being an old, ancient hilltop town we also get used a lot by the BBC for filming. We still regularly appear in Pobol y Cwm. This post office has been used for filming on several occasions.
Part 2 will be uploaded tomorrow.
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