RESIDENTS of a Monmouthshire village are campaigning to save their Post Office.

Earlier this year it was announced that the current post master will be resigning in January, and the service is now under threat until someone can be found to fill the position.

There are fears now, that due to a new strategy that Magor County Councillor Frances Taylor describes as “lacking sensitivity and applying a one size fits all approach,” it is likely that the Post Office will close as of the 4th January next year.

“All we know at the moment is that there is no longer going to be a post master at Magor Post Office beyond January,” she added.

“The services currently offered in Magor are both well used and highly valued by our local community, and our Post Office sees some 4,000 transactions per week.

“Magor’s rural location commands a wider catchment area for our Post Office services owing in no small part to the loss of services in nearby villages. It isn’t like the Post Office is a small village branch, it is very well used and is vital to our local residents and also to our local

businesses.”

Despite the Post Office searching for a replacement for the position, this has currently not been filled despite it being understood by Cllr Taylor that a local business owner had been interested.

Cllr Taylor said: “I am given to understand that the individual was willing to meet what appear to be very difficult requirements in order to ensure the future of such a valuable local service.”

“It would seem that in spite of being willing to take on these public services neither best intentions nor efforts were good enough to satisfy the Post Office.”

Undy-based Cllr Dimitri Batrouni added that the current situation is complex, and that the future of the Post Office is unclear.

“We’re trying to get to the bottom of the situation. At the moment there are some conflicting stories about whether the position is viable.

“It’s hard to know whether the confusion is just a misunderstanding or whether the service is no longer viable.

After drawing up a petition that has gathered nearly 700 signatures, a community action meeting has been organised for tonight (4th November) at Magor’s Golden Lion Inn at 7.30pm.

“Lots of people want to do something to show their support for this vital service,” Cllr Taylor added