AFTER months of waiting, Westbury once again has a post office.
The new branch in the Co-operative supermarket was officially opened on Thursday 24th September by children from three of Westbury’s primary schools.
Elizabeth Jenner, from Westbury Juniors, Emma Williams of Westbury Infants and Kirrily Wells had each won a competition at their school to design a stamp commemorating the occasion. Their winning designs will now be displayed at the post office permanently.
The opening of the new facility means the town once again has a post office, for the first time since 30th April, when the former branch at Coopers shut along with the supermarket.
New post office manager, Kathy French said, “I’m really excited about managing the store. I know people from Westbury have been struggling over to Trowbridge to the post office, so I think they’ll be happy to have their post office back. We’ll offer a full service here.”
The branch will open from 9.00am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday, and 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays. It will offer all the same amenities that the previous store offered.
Kathy added that the post office has five staff, and will be scheduling shifts so that more staff are on hand during busier periods, once a pattern of trading has been established.
Westbury Mayor, cllr Sue Ezra said, “I’m really pleased it’s back. Although not in a location to everybody’s liking I do feel that it’s better to have a post office than no post office at all. I’m thrilled that it’s open, and I’m sure once it’s been open a while, people will get used to the fact it’s at the Co-op.”
David Jenkins, chairman of Westbury Chamber of Commerce said, “At last! The problems seemed to have sorted themselves out. It’s a facility that the community and businesses have desperately needed since Coopers closed. A post office is a key feature of any town. It’s unfortunate that there was a period of time whilst it was sorted out, but now it’s opening it’s great news. Once it’s up and running I’m sure it will be well used.”
One of the first customers to use the new branch was The Mead resident Pat Holland, who said, “I’m most definitely grateful to have it back. I think it will be fine once they’ve ironed out all the creases.”
Alison Cole, Post Office operations manager for the Co-operative, said that the supermarket welcomed having the post office in the store. She said, “Co-op like to be very much in the community. I think the general feeling from most was that they are pleased to get their post office back.”
