Sir,
We have had the not unexpected news that our local Post Office is one of those listed for closure - surprise, surprise! and that we have to appeal by sending in our comments no later than July 14 (Bastille Day!), if we think our Post Office is vital to the village. So, I hope the villagers of Penally will swamp the Post Office with their comments. Should the cause be lost, however, we were heartened to read in the letter from the Post Office that if our Post Office has to close, and there are problems in purchasing a stamp, one of our nearest post offices is, wait for it, Caldey Island Post Office! So, apart from having to pay for ever-increasing costly stamps, we will only have to pay £9 for the Caldey boat trip, providing of course the boat is able to sail, unless, of course, it is delayed by rough seas! However, even with a free bus pass, it may even cost more if we have to take a taxi at £10 return to Tenby, should the Caldey boat have to sail early in the morning, before buses or trains have begun to operate. Such stupidity is a clear example that those in London not only have no idea of the geography of Pembrokeshire, but also have no idea where Caldey Island is situated. Perhaps they think there is a bridge from the mainland to Caldey Island, similar to that between the Isle of Skye and the Scottish mainland, or even a tunnel similar to the one between France and England. The idea of using the Caldey Post Office, which we would do so if it was our nearest Post Office, is an even more ironic and stupid suggestion when BT is considering closing the one and only telephone box on the island. May God keep us safe from such idiotic bureaucrats.
Michael and Mary Doyle,
Bracken Lea, Penally.