RESIDENTS in Barry are furious after it was announced a second post office in the town is set to close.

Customers at the Co-op Food store, known as Williams Stores, on Colcot Road, said they were “gutted” and “sad” that the in-store post office branch was scheduled to close down at the beginning of April this year. The Co-op say the post office branch is unprofitable and they will end its business in the Barry store.

Co-op’s decision – which could see four staff made redundant – comes weeks after Lloyds Pharmacy shut its in-store post office branch at Highlight Park.

A campaign to find a nearby suitable alternative proved unsuccessful and one of the two nearest alternatives was the Colcot Road branch.

A spokesman for The Co-operative Food confirmed it had informed Post Office Limited of its intention to remove the branch from its Colcot Road store.

He said: “This decision has been taken with the greatest regret, and is because the post office is making a loss. Removing it will allow us to improve the store, which will then be able to offer shoppers a wider range.

"Post Office Limited will determine if there is a need to make alternative arrangements, or whether there is adequate provision of post office services locally.

“And, every effort will be made to redeploy the four members of staff with the Co-operative group, or to help them find alternative employment.”

The Post Office said it would endeavour to find a suitable alternative to the latest Barry branch closure.

One 50-year-old resident, who did not want to be identified, said she was concerned about elderly users and the staff.

She said: “I’m gutted about it. I’ve used it for years for my mother and her finances.”

Peter Tree, 61, of Porthkerry Road, said: “It’s very sad. People will have to travel further and it’s a problem that the older people can’t get about as well and will have to go down to the High Street. The Co-op states it’s the co-op for the people. The idea of a co-op is that it is above profits.”

Another senior citizen, who lives nearby, said she believed people would feel a big difference following the closure of the Highlight Park branch.

Lindsay Clark, 61, added: “It’s going to be difficult to find another post office. My mother is 80 and she uses the post office.”

And Joanne Parfitt, 58, said: “I use it all the time. There are many disabled people that use it. There’s no way I can get to town or any other post office. I can just about do the walk here.”

While another resident who did not want to be named said: “It will leave pensioners having to go miles to the nearest for their pension

“I'm sure there are many pensioners, like my neighbours and vulnerable people in the area who will be hit hard by this decision.

“So much for their ethical stance that they make such a point of,” he said - highlighting that grocery items were also bought by people using the post office counter. “A lot of people will have no reason to go there now, especially with the One Stop closer for those around West Walk.”

A Post Office spokesman said it had been advised by its partner at the Colcot Road branch that they wished to give up running the post office from early April 2015.

He said: “Until then the post office will operate as normal. We are committed to provide post office services in the community and our local field team will now start the work of finding alternative ways of delivering Post Office services to local customers”.

The service is expected to cease at the beginning of April.

The nearest available post office is in Park Crescent, Barry.