To celebrate the launch of relocated Fryern Hill Post Office, into a brand new WHSmith Local store,
Steve Brine, Chandler's Ford MP, and Mayor of Eastleigh Cllr Tony Noyce 'cut the ribbon' at an opening ceremony on Friday 12 September.
Fryern Hill Post Office has relocated across the road to 6-7 Fryern Arcade, Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, SO53 2DP. Whereas the branch only had a small amount of retail previously, Postmaster Mrs Daljinder Briah moved to larger premises to open the Post Office at a WHSmith Local branch.
Mayor of Eastleigh Cllr Tony Noyce said: "I am delighted to be here today to congratulate postmaster Daljinder Briah on her new Post Office and WHSmith Local branch. The longer Post Office opening hours make it more convenient for customers to visit. The new premises look great – really modern."
Steve Brine MP, said: "It is great news that we have a modern Post Office with retail as they complement each other. This is an exciting new business venture that Daljinder Briah has taken on. The new open plan counters make it far easier for staff and customers to talk to each other."
As part of Post Office plans to modernise the network and extend opening hours, the new Fryern Hill Post Office will have four counters, with different styles of serving positions. There are three main counters – two open plan and one a modern screened position, which offer the full range of Post Office products and services Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm.
There is also a Post Office serving point at the retail counter where selected Post Office transactions can be made throughout shop opening hours, currently Monday to Saturday: 8 am - 6pm; Sunday: 11am – 4pm. This offers customers an extra 19 hours of Post Office service every week including Sunday and Saturday afternoon. The branch also opens earlier and closes later every day.
Daljinder Briah, said: "Customers really like the new-look Post Office. The premises are much better than before. They are fresh and modern. The larger premises allowed me to add retail to my Post Office. Now I have the WHSmith Local franchise. The Post Office staff transferred from across the road and we have extra staff for the retail side of the business. Customers really like the fact that the Post Office is open on a Saturday afternoon – that is a very popular change."
Martine Munby, Post Office Senior Stakeholder Manager, said: "We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Fryern Hill. I am confident this new modern Post Office will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future. This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office. It marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes."
Under the current Parliament the Government has committed £1.34bn for the Post Office network to make sure there is no programme of Post Office closures and to update branches; in November the Government announced a further £640m investment in the Post Office network, from 2015 to 2018. Nationwide the investment programme will see up to 8,000 branches modernised with additional investment in over 3,000 community and outreach branches.
