Distress at post office closure in Swansea

THE temporary closure of a busy post office in Swansea is a worry for businesses who bank there after the area’s only bank shut last year.

Sketty Post Office will close on January 31 following the resignation of the branch’s postmaster.

Post Office chiefs have advertised the premises at Sketty Cross and said they want to ensure the service continued, but it might be as part of a new shop.

“Future provision will reflect customer numbers and usage and we may take the opportunity to establish an alternative type of service,” said a Post Office letter.

The Sketty Cross area has a pub, several shops, restaurants and – until it closed last August – a Lloyds Bank branch. Before that, there also used to be a branch of HSBC Bank.

Staff at Square Peg Coffee House use the post office for banking and to get change. “It’s very important to us, basically,” said Martha Llewellyn, of Square Peg.  And the people who work there eat with us. I would definitely say they are an integral part of the community. Most of our clientele use the post office regularly. I think it would be really sad if it closed (for good).”

Thomas Tyrrell-Howell, the owner of nearby Dilly’s Kitchen, said: “We use the post office a lot in terms of change, and we send a lot of parcels with them. For us it’s a big hit.”

Sketty councillor Mike Day said he and fellow councillors were told of the January 31 closure on January 3. News of the temporary closure, he said, came as “no surprise but as a major disappointment”. He added: “I know that the communication from the Post Office states they are hoping that the closure will only be temporary, but I am fearful that Sketty residents and small businesses will lose yet another essential service.”

The nearest post offices are in Tycoch and Uplands, and some services are available at CK’s, Sketty Park.

Cllr Day said he wanted to ensure a future for the service at Sketty Cross, adding that the current operators would be sorely missed.

The Post Office said it would continue to work hard to restore the service as soon as possible, and wants interested parties to apply by April 30.

Interest in the vacancy will prove key, as shown by the ongoing closure of the post office on Walter Road, Swansea. It closed shortly before Christmas 2018, and hasn’t reopened since.

A Post Office spokesman said there hadn’t been any interest in the Walter Road branch, but encouraged applicants to get in touch.
He said: “We understand how important post office services are to a community, and would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the continued temporary closure of Walter Road Post Office.”