The business view

In the picture: Three of the men who've done so much in the fight to keep our post office open (from left to right) Allan Matheson (Colin, the Post Master's, 'Campaign Manager'), Colin Williams (details below) and Councillor Glynne Holmes.

So far this site has largely concentrated on hearing the views of the older folk in Llantrisant.

Now it's time to hear the equally powerful opinions of our business community, all of whose work would be severely hampered if our post office were to close.

In November Colin Williams, Operations Director of n-ergy, a firm specialising in business growth (see links) wrote an extremely comprehensive 1,500 word letter to Post Office Ltd's Steve Geraty outlining the many reasons why our branch should stay open.

He touched on issues like location, parking, the elderly, tourism, social inclusion and transport.

Here he outlines how the closure of the Swan Street premises would hit both him and our town's entrepreneurs.

"We are a recently established business and are located directly opposite the Llantrisant branch Post Office.

"We purchased and renovated one of the town’s historic premises, The Old Parish Offices, and now employ 11 people from the site. The proximity of our town's post office was a major, positive consideration in our decision to base ourselves here. The service they provide us is of extreme importance and closure would definitely raise our costs.

"In my view the alternatives suggested in the Post Office’s Document 'Proposed branch closure' have been made without any apparent factual and practical consideration.

"If we were to use either alternative this would add at least one hour per day for our administration staff – one of whom is registered disabled. They would need to drive to Talbot Green or Cross Inn to access the services of a Post Office - much of our mail is sent registered or recorded delivery, so a post box isn’t convenient for us.

"Llantrisant has many small businesses situated around the post office, it is a town that has resurrected itself from the negative impact of superstore establishment in the seventies and eighties, a time when nearly all local businesses closed.

"The town now has many small businesses of varying nature serviced by our post office. We have a thriving community with increasing commercial activity and this in itself will attract more small businesses to the town and therefore more employment. The closure of our post office will make Llantrisant less attractive for future investment by existing and new business.

"As well as this our branch is the nearest one to the Llantrisant Business Park (home of the Royal Mint). It offers ample parking for business and disabled users alike, far better than either of the alternatives identified by the Post Office.

"I would ask the Post Office to seriously consider the closure of the Llantrisant branch. There are exceptional reasons why it must no be closed. Our post office provides a commercial as well as a public Service to the town."