A BARRY post office has had a temporary reprieve from closure following the intervention of Vale MP Alun Cairns.

Lloyds Pharmacy has delayed the closure of the post office within the pharmacy branch at Highlight Park, Stirling Road, until December 31. The facility had been due to close on November 1, provoking a massive outcry from the community.

The race is now on to find an alternative site for the post office - with an appeal to Tesco to take on the facility.

LloydsPharmacy said it had decided to postpone the refit of its shop until after the Christmas period following its meeting with post office officials, who want to maintain the facility’s presence in the area – a move welcomed by those who use it.

72-year-old Rob Hartery, of Llanbethery, said: “It’s a real amenity for people who live around here especially the older people and those with limited mobility. It ties in well with the Tesco store and the chemist. They are the three things you use most,” adding that maybe Tesco could consider housing the branch.

Bryn Llewellyn, 82, of Oak Field Road, Barry, said the decision made sense and Tesco would do well to house it while Allan Cordell, 67, of the Colcot, Barry, said the post office was busy and he hoped it would be kept open.

Vale MP Alun Cairns welcomed the news, following his meeting with Lloyds Pharmacy and the Post Office, that an agreement has been made in principle to postpone the closure.

Mr Cairns called for the meeting, which took place on on September 24, to determine what he could do to avoid the closure and to learn about the decision making process.

He has now written to Tesco chief executive officer, Roger Lewis, to highlight the potential of the supermarket chain operating the post office from 2015.

Mr Cairns said: “I am very grateful to Lloyds Pharmacy for meeting with me in Barry and agreeing in principle to extend the life of the post office in the store. I am working with the Post Office, Tesco and others businesses to find an alternative site in the area.

“We must avoid a short notice closure, and identify a new site as a priority to ensure that residents in Highlight Park are not left without an essential service during the run up to Christmas.

“There are a number of improvements that could be made to the process when a commercial decision on a particular site is made. I have contacted Vince Cable, Secretary of State for the department responsible, to highlight the situation that we have here in the Vale and push for a more efficient switching process.

“I will remain in regular contact with the Post Office to ensure that we can maintain a post office for those users of the service in Highlight Park.”

A LloydsPharmacy spokeswoman said a decline in the demand for the post office service combined with a desire for the company to bring about improvements to its store and expand the health and wellbeing services offered, had led to the closure decision.

She said: “Despite only three months’ notice of closure being required by the Post Office, LloydsPharmacy provided notification five months before the intended closing date, as soon as it became apparent that our lengthy and extensive efforts to find an alternative provider had been exhausted.

“As a gesture of goodwill to the community while further discussions take place between the Post Office and prospective new partners, LloydsPharmacy has agreed that the post office will temporarily remain open until 31st December 2014, with responsibility for its operation being managed by the Post Office.

“The refit and improvement work at the pharmacy will be postponed until after this date, when we look forward to welcoming customers to enjoy our new approach to community pharmacy which has an increased focus on health.

“We look forward to hearing what we hope is a positive outcome from the Post Office’s negotiations with potential partners.”