New research revealing that the closure of local post offices broke community ties and hit vulnerable people hardest comes as no surprise to Pembrokeshire's Conservative politicians.

The study by Consumer Focus Wales found that the elderly, disabled and poorer people were less able to access services since the closures. They also became more isolated and lonely, it added.

Fifty seven post offices in south and west Wales were closed in August 2008 as part of a review by the Post Office Network Change Programme.
"We warned that our local post offices were much more than just shops providing a service," said Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies.

South Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns added: "The social and support aspect provided by small regional post offices was never properly taken into account by the bean counters so these findings come as no great surprise to me or these communities - it was a point we made time and time again in our village halls during all those endless, back-covering consultation exercises."

Maria Battle, senior director of Consumer Focus Wales, said in the report: "Our research shows the real detriment people face, especially vulnerable people, when their local post offices are closed."
The report said that customers were now facing longer waits and an impersonal service.

And those with health problems find it difficult to queue for long periods or to walk the extra distance to the new post office without assistance.
The closure of the local post office also led to far fewer opportunities for social interaction, with people reporting an increase in isolation and loneliness.

"The closure of so many post offices was a real tragedy for Wales and we are only now learning the true social consequences of such action," added Conservative parliamentary candidate Simon Hart.