THE relocation of Monmouth's main Post Office from Priory Street to Monnow Street is being opposed by Town Councillors.
The Post Office business has been sold to Morgam News who aim to relocate it in their current premises in Monnow Street.
However, Cllr Mrs Eileen Goodrich said the move would be bad for trade in the Priory Street area and access to the new site would be bad for the elderly and disabled.
"Access for the elderly and disabled is a very serious consideration. Monnow Street is a very difficult area to park. There is no designated parking for the disabled and although this is the case in Priory Street, if you have a yellow badge you can stop for a short while to attend the Post Office," she said.
"There are cases where some disabled take their 'buggies' into the Post Office to get their pensions. With the Disabled Discrimination Act I feel on behalf of many people who have approached me, this has to be seriously considered as a reason for not moving the Post Office to the newsagents' site in Monnow Street.
"The elderly and disabled who use the Post Office would have to park on the opposite side of Monnow Street and then cross a busy road to get what they need. This is a very strong reason why the Post Office should remain where it is.
"Business in this area has also to be seriously considered as a lot of people who use the Post Office also use other retailers in this area, especially if they are disabled or elderly. This area of Monmouth needs this trade and would notice it enormously if it was taken away. They certainly would suffer and are seriously concerned."
Mrs Goodrich asked if the newsagents could run the Post Office on its present site as it was running very well at the moment with all the accessories it sold as well.
"Surely to accommodate the Post Office at the new site would need considerable modification," she said. "Surely savings could accrue by using the current site. Considerable disquiet has already been expressed with the mention of petitions against the proposed move."
Cllr Jeff Smith said there would have to be a great deal of thought about the traffic management in the area if the plan went ahead. He could foresee chaos.
He suggested the Council ask Cair to do an audit about disabled access to the new site.
The Mayor, Cllr Richard Bond, said he felt Priory Street in many ways was as bad as Monnow Street in terms of parking. There were concerns about parking in either place. People parked and caused an obstruction in Priory Street.
Cllr Mr Charles Boase said the parking issue was a blind. He was more concerned about the effect the move would have on the top end of town. It would suck trade away from the top end and that was something the Council should be deeply concerned about.
The current site was a splendid building which as a venue for the Post Office was excellent.
A letter from the Post Office said the new premises would offer a more spacious and modern environment, but that was "tosh, complete sales speak", he said.
A great deal of the Museum's trade came from passing trade from the Post Office. If the Post Office moved it would take a lot of trade away.
The Mayor said they should find out what the Post Office's attitude was. "They'll ask our opinion and do what they like," he said.
If the Post Office did move, he said, perhaps the Tourist Information Centre could move in which would attract business. He suggested asking the County Council for their views.
The Council agreed to write to Cair, the police and Post Office about the move with a copy to the County Council's area manager.
A letter from Linda Roberts, the Post Office's Retail Network Manager, to Mr Boase said the main focus in proposing the move was to help safeguard the long term future of Post Office services in the area.
The proposal could bring a number of enhancements including improved opening times of Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 17.30 pm and Saturday 8.30 am to 16.00.
It was a central position in the heart of the community and could offer improved retail facilities in a more modern and spacious environment.