Postwatch respond to Davidson

The site entry "What led to your change of heart?" (see below) contains extracts of a letter Pontypridd AM Jane Davidson sent to Postwatch Wales' Chairman Eifion Pritchard on January 21st.

The letter outlines Ms Davidson's shock at the decision to close our post office and makes reference to Postwatch Wales' perceived capitulation; how they initially backed our branch to the hilt but then suddenly withdrew their support for us at the last minute.

Today I received a copy of Mr Pritchard's response to Ms Davidson's letter (many thanks to Chris Williams in Jane's office for faxing me a copy)

The letter, dated January 30th, makes very interesting reading indeed.

Sadly, it confirms the growing view in our town that Postwatch Wales are a toothless organisation incapable of both loyally pursuing and robustly expressing an argument to its appropriate end.

The letter begins by padding out the procedures followed by Postwatch Wales in its dealings with Post Office Ltd.

It's not until well into page 2, after Postwatch outline the powerful and numerous reasons for maintaining our branch, that the specific reasons for closing it are reached.

Mr Pritchard writes: "...at the second stage of the review process we again argued strongly for the post office to remain open, citing aforementioned evidence.

"However Post Office Ltd set out their position with reference to pertinent local factors and the Government-prescribed access criteria, and made it clear that they would not change their decision to close the branch.

"It was therefore agreed that the review process would not progress and that Post Office Ltd would proceed with the closure.

"Specifically, at the second stage of the review process, Post Office Ltd cited the relatively low customer usage at the branch, and stated that although small businesses would be inconvenienced, as the nearest branch was less than a mile and most business customers drove, this inconvenience was not justification for retaining the branch.

"Post Office Ltd also stated that they had serious concerns over the long term sustainability of the Llantrisant branch, as there were two nearby alternative post offices.

"At the meeting it was agreed Post Office Ltd would:

* Write to the local authority and bus company to seek the movement of one of the bus stops to a safer area and also to provide a shelter at the bus stop.

* Liaise with the subpostmaster at the nearest branch in connection with the installation of a "combi" till on the retail side of the business.

* Scope possible alternative businesses in the area where stamps can be sold.

"I should stress that the decision to proceed with the closure," concludes Mr Pritchard, "was made by Post Office Ltd."

Detailed reaction and analysis of this letter will follow.