A CAMPAIGN to halt the closure of Barry’s only crown post office has ended in failure.

The Post Office announced its decision to close its crown branch in Holton Road, as part of its plans to create a sustainable network for the future.

Campaigners hoped an alternative location could be found nearby, but Post Office bosses declared bids unsuitable.

Roger Gale, Post Office’s general manager of the crown network, said it was confident it could provide customers with good access to its services.

He said: “Regrettably, in some locations, crown branches are loss-making and we cannot look to the taxpayer to subsidise these.

“The Barry area is well served by other branches, with King Square just over half a mile from Holton Road and a further four post office branches within two miles.”

Improvements, including a new automatic door and additional serving position, will be made at King Square.

The Post Office said it would re-advertise for businesses interested in operating a local-style service in Barry, outside of the town centre.

Vale MP Alun Cairns said he was “deeply disappointed” by the decision.

He said: “It is an important facility for local business as well as individual users and whether the upgraded King Square branch will be able to cope with the displacement remains to be seen.

“It is frustrating that nearby local businesses keen to take on the services provided by the closing branch have been unable to do so due to proximity to the existing King Square branch. I would like to see the option kept open so that action can be taken to meet high demand for services in central Barry.

“There will be a need to re-assess the set up in the Holton Road area following the closure, and would like this to be done as early as next year.”

Vale AM Jane Hutt said she was “extremely disappointed”.

She said: “I launched a vigorous campaign to save it. My petition attracted thousands of signatures, demonstrating the strength of public feeling. Barry is the largest town in Wales and has benefited from Welsh Government regeneration funds. It is unthinkable that it should lose its crown post office.”

Buttrills Vale and Barry Town Council, cllr, Ian Johnson said: “I warned from the start that this was a bad-faith consultation. The only outcome the Post Office wanted was Barry’s only crown post office closed, so they’ve closed it.

“Privatisation of the Post Office Ltd by the Tories meant the Post Office is more interested in profits than people.

“The Labour-run Vale council should also have been proactive. I suggested moving the Post Office across to the road to the Vale Offices, where similar facilities were available, but they wanted nothing to do with it.”

The Barry crown post office will close on Saturday, January 7 2017.