Standing united to beat the axe

Aug 14 2008 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

Standing united to beat the axe

YOUNG and old took part in a protest march to fight against the proposed closure of a post office in Llandudno Junction.

Six branches face complete closure in Conwy County as part of a cost-cutting exercise while a further six rural branches are proposed to become “outreach services”.

The outreach services could either operate as a mobile facility visiting a number of communities or a restricted service in an existing town or village business, such as a shop or pub.

The Llandudno Junction branch at 73 Conway Road, close to the Netto store is on the hit-list, but the community is fighting hard to save it. Last Friday protestors and councillors marched from the post office to the community centre for a public meeting.

Cllr Mike Priestley is spearheading the campaign alongside Cllr Linda Hurr, Carrie Bradwell, who runs the post office, and Mel Lewis, who runs the community centre.

Cllr Linda Hurr said: “The main aim of the meeting was to establish an action plan and from now on our headquarters will be the community centre.

“About 50 people came, which is very encouraging considering it was a Friday night. Many elderly and infirm people said they would not be able to travel to the post office at the top of the hill and concern was raised that it would be very difficult to get wheelchairs up to the counter along the narrow passage at the other post office.

“I feel that we can’t sit back and do nothing while yet another of our important community services is taken away without proper regard for its pivotal position in our community.”

Mel Lewis revealed that she has received a letter of support from the headteacher of Ysgol Maelgwn and says Simon Macbryde, of Macbryde Homes, which is building hundreds of new homes on Victoria Drive, is writing a letter of support as the new residents would use the post office.

Mel said: “A previous study showed that Llandudno Junction needs five counters and that was even before all these new houses were being built.

“To close two counters at the Netto post office makes no sense.”

A petition at the post office is underway and it already has over 600 names on the list.