Closure will mean job cuts

Oct 9 2008 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

GUTTED was the reaction of the owner of Alexandra Road Stores when he heard the news the sub-post office is to close.

Gary Burchett says the business will continue as a Spar store, but he has to make one staff member redundant and other redundancies may follow.

“It’s knocked the stuffing out of us. I feel sorry not just for my staff, but for my customers, particularly the elderly who will struggle to get to other post offices,” he said.

Mr Burchett said he had hoped against hope that the strength of public support for the office, evidenced by public meetings, letters and petitions, would have influenced the outcome.

“It is a very sad day. The business will continue but whether or not it will be able to sustain the staffing levels we have now is under review,” he said.

Llandudno mayor Billy Evans felt sorry for the elderly people of West Shore.

“It is devastating news. There are five senior citizens’ complexes in the immediate area, and in bad weather it is going to be very difficult for the elderly or infirm to get to one of the other post offices.”

Resident Annejennette Stephenson, who organised a survey to support the need for the office, said she felt the Post Office had only gone through the motions of a public consultation.

“It is a great shame for the area and it will leave a lot of people disadvantaged. I think we as a community will have to look at ways of helping elderly and disabled people to access these services,” she commented.