Closure-threatened post office is refurbished
A FAMILY-run village post office has had a major refurbishment just months after it was saved from closure.
Last May residents in and around Tysoe united in huge numbers to oppose the potential closure, claiming such a move would leave them cut off from essential postal services.
At the time the Post Office argued that low footfall at the branch made it unprofitable and it was unlikely to pass a financial assessment, a verdict disputed by staff.
Almost 2,000 villagers signed a petition against the closure of the branch that serves 19 local villages.
Three months later the Post Office announced that it had passed the assessment and would stay open in its current form.
It has been quite a turnaround since then, and the unveiling of the refurbishment on Friday, 16th April, following a refurbishment costing several thousands of pounds marks an exciting new era.
To mark its reopening, the branch’s oldest customer, 100-year-old Eddie Tyley, cut the ribbon.
Jaqueline Franklin, Manager of Tysoe Post Office, said: “The whole branch has been completely gutted and refitted, we have new retail units and new flooring too. I think everybody loved it when they saw it, the branch is so light and airy now, people have really noticed the change.
“I think it’s absolutely brilliant, we provide a vital service for the community and many residents would find it very difficult to travel to use Post Office services elsewhere. The support we received from the local community when the branch was under threat was fantastic.”
The refurbished branch has seen its working hours increased by five hours a week and will no longer close for lunch on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday.
Michael Brennan, Post Office area manager, said: “We are confident that this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs. This modernisation is part of a major investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office and will secure services for the future.”
This spring has also seen the refurbishment of Stratford Post Office and the relocation and reopening of Chipping Campden Post Office with extended opening hours.
The new Chipping Campden Post Office counter at the Dandelion opened on Tuesday, 26th April, and Kineton Post Office reopened on Friday, 29th April, following refurbishment. That branch will also have its opening hours increased by 40 hours a month to include Sunday opening.
