An open letter to Messrs Geraty and Roberts

To Steve Geraty, Network Development Manager, Post Office Ltd, c/o National Consultation Team, FREEPOST CONSULTATION TEAM

To Mr Huw Roberts, Royal Mail Group, Director of Welsh Affairs, 3rd Floor, 220 Penarth Road, CARDIFF, CF11 8TA

Dear Steve and Huw

RE: CLOSURE OF LLANTRISANT POST OFFICE

As I am sure you will understand, the people of Llantrisant are extremely disappointed by your decision to close our post office.

I have read the reasons given to justify closure and I am sorry to write that they are both inadequate and an insult to our intelligence.

Your points omit key facts, are dismissively general, show a lack of knowledge of both our town's geography and economy and are, in some cases, laughable.

So I would be grateful if you could inform the people who campaigned so well to save our post office why:

1. The hilltop town of Llantrisant was described as "hilly in parts". I find this description bizarre in the extreme. It reveals a desperate lack of knowledge about our post office's location yet you've claimed, in the past, that Post Office Ltd. were in the area during the consultation phase. Writing that Llantrisant is "hilly in parts" is like saying Snowdonia is steep in places.

2. You write of "feedback" and "some concerns" in your justification of the closure. Could you have the courtesy to state precisely how many letters you received from customers protesting about the closure and also the number of signatures on the petition submitted? Why did you omit these details from your justification for closure?

3. You write of a regular bus service. Please could you be more precise as I do not know of such a service. Could you tell me the times of this "regular" service you claim exists?

4. You write of "consideration to the local economy". Which local economy are you referring to, Talbot Green's? Do you think that the economy of Llantrisant will benefit by your decision to close our post office and your insensitive and wholly inappropriate endorsement of Tesco Extra? How do you think local shop owners will like that?

I look forward to receiving your reply/replies which I will upload on to this site on receipt.

Yours sincerely

John Gilheaney

Note to blog visitors: to read the reasons given for closure see blog entry with that title below.