THE number of shops in a small inland village will halve if the local post office closes as part of a Government plan to shut down 2,500 across the UK. Losses of £4 million per week, combined with fewer users, led trade and industry secretary Alistair Darling to announce plans to slash branches across the post office network. In rural areas, 95% of the population could be up to three miles away from their nearest office and up to six in remote parts. In Llanfairtalhaiarn, there are only two shops. One is part of the village garage and the other aligned to the post office, owned by Sue Tipler. "I have no idea whether we are going to go or not," said Mrs Tipler. "We are a full-time post office, but that does not mean we are safe as we do not know what criteria they are looking for. "Without the post office, we could not run the shop. That would be it, we would no longer be viable and would be unable to keep it running. And to close the shop would be taking away our livelihood." Mrs Tipler also believes she knows why post offices are losing money. "The Government is taking more and more things away from us and we need people coming through the door, people have to use us." Recent changes have taken away the facilities to pay for TV licences and people in receipt of benefits can no longer pick them up at the post office. Darren Millar, AM for Clwyd West, joined Mrs Tipler in condemning the announcement. "These closures will have a immeasurable impact upon local communities, especially in the more rural parts of our area where people may now have to travel over 15 miles to a hole in the wall, or get advice on their last-minute travellers cheques. "The post office has always occupied a vital space in providing these vital local services. "The announced closures have been made on purely arbitrary grounds and I am dismayed at the shocking disregard the government has shown for the enormous contribution post offices make to society at a grass roots level." | 
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