Call for mobile post office dismissed as uncertainty continues for town centre

Calls for a mobile post office to serve Caerphilly town, as residents wait on a permanent replacement, have been dismissed.

The town centre has been without a post office since the branch at TG Jones closed earlier this month when the national retailer shut its store at Castle Court Shopping Centre.

It was recently revealed that an application for a new town centre branch had been turned down by Post Office bosses, with political pressure growing for it to return.

Both Jamie Pritchard, the Labour leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, and Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Lindsay Whittle have promised to hold the Post Office to its commitment to maintain a presence in the town centre.

Mr Whittle, the Blaenau Gwent, Caerffili, Rhymni MS, wrote to Post Office chiefs suggesting a mobile branch be introduced in the interim, which new applications are submitted.

He said: “The Post Office already operates mobile post offices, there is one in my constituency at Cwm, and I don’t think it is asking too much for them to put one in Caerphilly town centre for a few weeks or months.

“The post offices at Castle View and Penyrheol, as well as Bedwas and Trethomas, are just not convenient for thousands of people who live in and around Caerphilly town centre.”

But in an email to Mr Whittle, the Post Office said there were still other options for people.

The email read: “We recognise that the loss of Caerphilly post office is inconvenient for our customers who rely on high street services, and again we apologise to those who may need to travel further to access services. 

“There are a number of alternative branches in the area. There are two main post Offices in Caerphilly at Castle View and Penyrheol, as well as two further full service branches in Bedwas and Trethomas.

“We are, therefore, not considering any temporary or mobile services at this time.”

Asked by Caerphilly Observer why the application for a new post office operator was refused, a Post Office spokesperson said the company does not divulge the information as “an applicant applies in confidence”.

It is still unknown how long it will take for a post office to re-open in the town centre.