Could be worse. This is one way of describing the proposals for post office closures in and near Rhuthun. Only two are scheduled for complete closure, although two more will become outreach post offices on selected days only, one probably served by a van.
I guess we have to face the fact that the UK government has encouraged other ways of accessing services once associated with the post office. Time was when you couldn’t buy stamps anywhere than a post office. Now, it’s possible to do much post office business elsewhere, by direct debit or online, from bill paying and car tax to TV licensing, often more efficiently.
And DVLA, for example, is *so* keen to see you *not* use a post office it will enter you into a draw to win a car if you don’t.
Llanfwrog post office is one outlet that will close. The post office’s criterion is that 95 per cent of urban populations shall be within one mile of a post office. The alternative at St Peter's Square is less than a mile from anywhere in urban Llanfwrog. And if people can get into town for banks, council services, the library and medical facilities, there’s no reason why they can’t for a post office. So the argument goes.
The Co-op convenience store housing Llanfwrog post office will presumably retain its Paypoint service, available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, outside and during post office opening times, as no doubt will Bridge Services. Here you can pay utility, phone bills & council tax, buy a TV licence and top up a mobile.
But. There’s always a but. I wonder what Llanfwrog post office’s turnover is like. Is it profitable or breaking even? It always seems there’s someone at the window. It sees about a quarter of the trade at St Peter's Square but double that of open Pentre Llanrhaeadr further up the road. Llanfwrog serves a population of about 2,000. Compare this to areas of far fewer people whose post offices will stay open (Bryneglwys, Clawddnewydd, Derwen, Llanbedr, Llandegla, Llandyrnog, Pentre Llanrhaeadr). And, Llanfwrog is after all a useful alternative to having to park in Rhuthun town centre for a single business transaction.
Llanfwrog’s population is older and less well off than those on t’other side of the Clwyd. Its population is less likely to have a bank account, for example. A local post office is therefore an easy way access or pay by cash.
A further point of interest is that both Dinbych urban post offices (in town and at Townsend) will remain open. The physical situation in Denbigh is similar to Rhuthun's but the result is so different. Is this fair?
Those who feel strongly that we should not bow to the inevitable have till 15 September to pass official comment though we strongly suspect it’s a fait accompli. This means we’re about to lose a community facility of value and importance to those who really need it. Most of us can easily cope. What about those who can't? Will the closure add to a feeling of isolation?
The other closing post office is at Clocaenog. Outreach services are scheduled for Cerrigydrudion and Gwyddelwern
I guess we have to face the fact that the UK government has encouraged other ways of accessing services once associated with the post office. Time was when you couldn’t buy stamps anywhere than a post office. Now, it’s possible to do much post office business elsewhere, by direct debit or online, from bill paying and car tax to TV licensing, often more efficiently.
And DVLA, for example, is *so* keen to see you *not* use a post office it will enter you into a draw to win a car if you don’t.
Llanfwrog post office is one outlet that will close. The post office’s criterion is that 95 per cent of urban populations shall be within one mile of a post office. The alternative at St Peter's Square is less than a mile from anywhere in urban Llanfwrog. And if people can get into town for banks, council services, the library and medical facilities, there’s no reason why they can’t for a post office. So the argument goes.The Co-op convenience store housing Llanfwrog post office will presumably retain its Paypoint service, available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, outside and during post office opening times, as no doubt will Bridge Services. Here you can pay utility, phone bills & council tax, buy a TV licence and top up a mobile.
But. There’s always a but. I wonder what Llanfwrog post office’s turnover is like. Is it profitable or breaking even? It always seems there’s someone at the window. It sees about a quarter of the trade at St Peter's Square but double that of open Pentre Llanrhaeadr further up the road. Llanfwrog serves a population of about 2,000. Compare this to areas of far fewer people whose post offices will stay open (Bryneglwys, Clawddnewydd, Derwen, Llanbedr, Llandegla, Llandyrnog, Pentre Llanrhaeadr). And, Llanfwrog is after all a useful alternative to having to park in Rhuthun town centre for a single business transaction.
Llanfwrog’s population is older and less well off than those on t’other side of the Clwyd. Its population is less likely to have a bank account, for example. A local post office is therefore an easy way access or pay by cash.
A further point of interest is that both Dinbych urban post offices (in town and at Townsend) will remain open. The physical situation in Denbigh is similar to Rhuthun's but the result is so different. Is this fair?
Those who feel strongly that we should not bow to the inevitable have till 15 September to pass official comment though we strongly suspect it’s a fait accompli. This means we’re about to lose a community facility of value and importance to those who really need it. Most of us can easily cope. What about those who can't? Will the closure add to a feeling of isolation?
The other closing post office is at Clocaenog. Outreach services are scheduled for Cerrigydrudion and Gwyddelwern
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