A Consultation into controversial plans to close Aberystwyth’s historic post office has been labelled “a sham” after jobs in the proposed new branch were advertised on the day the consultation ended.
The Post Office and WH Smith have insisted that “no decisions” have yet been made on the proposals to close the office on Great Darkgate Street and move services and staff into the Smiths branch on Terrace Road.
The consultation into the plans ended on 21 September, and the same day a job advert appeared searching for a Post Office manager role at the WH Smith branch.
While the job advert’s small print said the role is “subject to the results of a consultation”, Aberystwyth town councillors have called the move a “done deal” and labelled the consultation a “farce”.
Cllr Ceredig Davies told members of Aberystwyth Town Council on Monday that he felt the decision has already been made.
“WH Smith have advertised the job on the same day that the consultation ended,” he said.
“Call me cynical, but this feels like a done deal. They said they haven’t made any decisions so why advertise?
“It’s putting an enormous amount of pressure on staff, they just don’t know where they stand.”
The Post Office said that “no decision” has been made and that advertising jobs ahead of time “was not unusual.”
This article was originally published in the Cambrian News – Click here to continue reading
