CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a closure-threatened Cwmbran post office will this month learn if they have succeeded.

The Post Office last year announced a huge restructuring and modernisation programme involving more than 9,000 of its urban branches - and Greenwillows in Cwmbran is the latest earmarked for closure.

Consultation on the plan is due to end on October 16.

A Post Office spokeswoman said following consideration of the comments received the Post Office will make a decision "as soon as possible" on whether to keep Greenwillows open.

Three post offices have already closed as part of the Post Office Network Regeneration programme: Bloomfield Road, Blackwood, Fields Park Road, Newport (June 2003) and Pontywaun (September 2003).

On November 17 post offices at High Street and Freeholdland, Pontypool are due to close.

Along with Greenwillows, three other proposed closures are still be consulted upon - Llantarnam, Croesyceiliog, and the Royal Oak post office, Newport.

Other temporary closures in Gwent have taken place at post offices at Tintern, Portskewett and Langstone.

These were "business as usual" closures although the Post Office is negotiating with interested parties with an aim to restore services at these three locations.

South Wales East AM Mike German recently walked with Cwmbran residents protesting against the closure plan to show how far away the next office was.

Angry locals walked from Greenwillows post office to St Dials post office and back - a round trip of two and a half miles.

He said: "The council own the block where Greenwillows post office and the shops are.

"If the post office goes there could be a domino effect which would see the local shops going as well. There will be less people coming to the shops to use the post office facilities."

Dave Barrett, head of the commercial urban network in Wales, said: "Proposals to close post office branches are not made without considerable research and discussion.

"We have concluded that if the Greenwillows branch was to close it would improve the long-term prospects of the other branches in the area.

"But before we make a final decision we would like to hear of any concerns customers and others might have about the closure."

* Write to Dave Barrett at the National Consultation Team, PO Box 641, St Albans, AL1 5XN by October 16.