APPENDIX 2
Letter from Mr Alan Bates, Llandudno
In response to your request for further information
about Penrhynside Post Office, I have listed below, in chronological
order, the events as I now recall them.
The vacancy for someone to run that Post Office
was first brought to my attention by an article which appeared
in The North Wales Weekly News on 18 May, a copy of that
article is enclosed (not printed). As we employed a number of
part-time staff, some of whom were available to undertake extra
hours if required, I was wiling to consider running the Penrhynside
Post Office as an extension to our main business in Craig-y-Don.
It was very much a community gesture and whilst I did not expect
to make any profit from taking Penrhynside on board, I did have
to ensure I could meet all the costs associated with that office
from its' Post Office salary.
To investigate further this possibility I contacted
the Post Office's Retail Network Manager for that office, Mr John
Emlyn Hughes, and spoke to him about what was required. We discussed
the opening hours and the office salary and though at this point,
a number of months on, I cannot recall the exact hours or the
exact salary for that office, I can clearly remember that the
funding available would have just covered all the expenses bar
the £10 a week rent he informed me that the current premises
owner required.
I recollect that the conversation ended on a
note that, at that time, other people had expressed an interest,
but as yet no formal applications had been received, but I did
say I would still be willing to assist if there was a way that
would not cost me money.
That was really how the matter was left, and
it was not until a Post Office training session at The Marine
Hotel one evening a number of weeks later, that I met John Emlyn
Hughes and during a tea break I asked him what was happening about
the Penrhynside office. I seem to recall I was informed that a
replacement had not been found for the office and there was every
likelihood the office would be closed. Again I did comment that
if the viability was there, then I would still be willing to consider
taking over the office.
The only other occasion I discussed this matter
during this period was in response to a telephone call from Gareth
Jones AM who had contacted me following an approach to him from
one of our regular customers, a Mr Hughes, who though now retired
had held a senior post with the Post Office. I understand Mr Hughes
had suggested to Gareth Jones that I might have been able to assist
in some way with the Penrhynside office. In my conversation with
Gareth Jones I am sure I informed him I had been in touch with
the Retail Network Manager about Penrhynside and that under the
current financial arrangement for that office it was unviable
for us to consider taking it over.
I have done my best to recall the details about
my limited involvement with the Penrhynside Post Office, but it
was almost a year ago and I did not keep a file or notes about
it.
16 February 2001
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