Dan Norris MP for North East Somerset and Hanham “cut the ribbon” at the official opening of Keynsham Post Office at 46A High Street, Keynsham, BS31 1DX.
Keynsham Post Office has opened under new permanent management at the nearby former Shoe Zone premises. New owners Hardik and Rachana Pandya have fully refitted the premises for Keynsham Post Office and a One Stop franchise convenience store.
The branch at 44 High Street, Keynsham, BS31 1DY, has been operated on a short-term contract, therefore, we had looked for a permanent solution. The Pandyas, who already operate Backwell Post Office in Somerset, successfully supplied.
Keynsham Post Office will soon be the only place to do banking in Keynsham as the Halifax, which is the last bank in town, is closing in May. People can do their personal and business banking at this branch and it has very convenient, daily opening with extended hours.
Dan Norris MP said: “It's great for Keynsham residents to once again have a permanent Post Office in our town. I know residents will really value the opportunity not just to post letters and parcels but also to do their everyday banking in the High Street.
"Thank you to Hardik and Rachana Pandya for taking on Keynsham Post Office and One Stop convenience store, which has undergone a major refurbishment.”
There are three serving Post Office service positions in total: two screened and a Post Office serving point at the retail counter.
The full-screened counters offer a wide range of services and are open Monday to Saturday: 9am – 5.30pm. The Post Office service point, offering selected services, will be open Monday to Sunday: 7am – 9pm. This provides 98 hours of Post Office service a week for the convenience of customers – more than double the previous opening hours. This is an extra 52 hours of service per week including all-day Sunday, Saturday afternoon, plus earlier opening and later closing.
Postmaster Hardik Pandya said: “My wife, and I have been in retail for 18 years and we have taken our experience from operating Backwell Post Office, to take on Keynsham Post Office and One Stop store. Whenever the shop is open, the Keynsham Post Office is too.
“We have had lots of great feedback about the look of our new shop and Post Office. Rachana and I are very community-focussed, and we will both be based at this branch as we want to build up our business here and to get to know our customers and the needs of the community. We know that people are relieved that we are providing a permanent Post Office in Keynsham, especially with the imminent closure of the last bank.
“People live busy lives and by extending the opening hours of the Post Office this allows those customers to pop in before or after work, or at the weekend to send mail, return parcels, pay bills, or to do banking. Some more complicated services, for instance vehicle tax renewal, identity checks and passport check and send are available Monday to Saturday during the daytime, but so much more can also be done at other times.”
The same Post Office services are available as before including Amazon and it is hoped that other courier services will also soon be provided.
Rachel Hardy, Post Office Business Support Manager, said: “We know that Hardik and Rachana already run a 1st class branch at Backwell and therefore we are confident that they will do a great job serving the people of Keynsham. They really care about their customers and are knowledgeable about the Post Office services that they provide. Their new shop and Post Office look fantastic, and it shows their commitment to this community.”