A MONMOUTHSHIRE county councillor has welcomed news from Post Office Counters that a ‘severely missed’ sub-branch is set to reopen early in 2018.

Councillor, Giles Howard who represents Llanfoist Fawr ward stated that since the facility closed as a result of the retirement of the previous sub-postmistress in May, both he and David Davies MP had been in regular contact with Post Office Counters to press for the reinstatement of the service.

‘To be fair to the Post Office, they have continually stated that it was not their intention to permanently close Llanfoist, but I am really disappointed that it has taken so long to get this far’, said Councillor Howard.

‘I am however relieved that the Post Office will be run by an existing local operator as the branch has been severely missed by residents. Many people had come to rely on the service and its handy location, more so since the closures of Llanellen and Govilon, because the other closest option has been the main Post Office in Abergavenny’.

Councillor Howard added, ‘I think Llanfoist residents have shown extraordinary patience while the Post Office has been closed, and no doubt both I and the Community Council will want to work with the Post Office to make sure that the level of service and opening hours can meet people’s expectations, when the reopening finally happens.’