AFTER months of uncertainty about post office services in Garndiffaith, residents have received new hope.

Torfaen AM, Lynne Neagle, has revealed that post office services in Garndiffaith will definitely resume, after receiving written assurances from Royal Mail Chiefs.

Furthermore, a vacancy for a new sub-postmaster has now been advertised on the Post Office's website.

The post office on Stanley Road has been closed since September 2010, leaving local people unable to access the vital services they rely on, and forcing elderly and vulnerable residents to travel long distances to other Post Offices in Talywain or Abersychan to draw pensions and other benefits.

In February, the Free Press reported that a group of local residents collected 270 signatures calling on Royal Mail to re-open the service as soon as possible.

However, the Torfaen AM has expressed worry over suggestions that the replacement Post Office will be a Post Office Local service.

This is a new format of Post Office, which is currently being piloted in a range of retail outlets across the UK, and would see post office services provided by staff within a shop environment, rather than at a separate counter.

Commenting on the news, Lynne Neagle said: "I know that the continuing closure of the Garndiffaith Post Office has been a huge inconvenience for local residents, so I'm obviously delighted that there now seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

"This news will come as a great relief to the hundreds of local residents who have campaigned for the service to be re-opened.

"However, I need to be sure that any replacement will offer local residents the same quality of service they are used to, and I will be writing to Royal Mail again for further details on their plans to create a 'Post Office Local' in Garndiffaith."