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A Post Office in Risca is set to close later this year.

This week, it was announced that the Post Office at the Premier store on Exchange Road will close “temporarily” from October 18. However, its postmaster has said the closure will likely be permanent.

In a letter to customers, Katimay John, who is the Network Provision Lead at the Post Office, said: “I would like to assure you that we are working hard to keep any period of closure to a minimum and we are currently investigating the options available which will enable us to reinstate a Post Office service to the local community.

“In exploring this, it is important that any future service is sustainable for the person operating the service, and for Post Office Limited.”

Postmaster Ronnie Fha, who is employed by the Premier franchise, explained to Caerphilly Observer that the running of the Post Office had become difficult for the store to manage.

However, he said the store would try and meet with the Post Office again to see if any arrangements can be made to keep it open.

“The Post Office has been here for more than 20 years and we’ve got to know the people here who come in every week.

“But we’re keeping the shop – the shop is doing good.”

Independent councillor Bob Owen, who represents the Risca West ward, said that while there was already another Post Office in Risca town centre, the closure of the Exchange Post Office would “impact those at the top end of Risca”.

Islwyn’s Labour MP, Chris Evans, said: “It is obviously disappointing news that the Post Office in Risca will be closing. I have written to the Post Office asking that they look urgently to find a new postmaster, so that this vital service will be able to reopen as soon as possible.”

Rhianon Passmore, the Labour Senedd Member for Islwyn, called for an alternative site to be found and said: “With every single Post Office that closes there is a reduction in services to the public. 

“People are fed up of seeing their local high street banks and Post Offices close. It diminishes the offer to the public in our high streets and it diminishes accessibility to services for people.”