Luke Pollard MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport “cut the ribbon” (8/2) at the official opening of Stoke Post Office at new premises – Premier, Kwik Shop, 112 Albert Road, Stoke, Plymouth, PL2 1AF.
This has restored Post Office services to the community.
In March last year, Maadura Ravinthiran took on the convenience store. A big refurbishment took place in August and the shop became a Premier convenience store.
Maadura successfully applied to add Stoke Post Office to the shop which is at the heart of a residential area and near to a residential home.
Luke Pollard MP said: “I’m delighted to open a brand new Stoke Post Office. Our community has missed the services a post office provides, so it’s great news we have a brand new post office locally.
“I want to thank Maadura Ravinthiran for taking on this shop, modernising the premises and for adding a Post Office. This is a big investment and shows the big commitment to serving this community.”
The Post Office opening hours are Monday to Sunday: 8am – 9pm. This provides 91 hours of Post Office service a week for the convenience of customers and the convenience store is open even longer hours (Monday to Saturday: 7am – 11pm; Sunday: 8am – 11pm).
Stoke Post Office is alongside the retail counter of the convenience store. There is a wide door and level access.
This is Maadura’s first shop, but she has worked in accounts and her husband worked in retail for 15 years. Similar products and services are available as at the previously branch at 58 Devonport Road, Plymouth, PL3 4DF, which closed in 2017 when the postmistress retired?
Postmistress, Maadura Ravinthiran said: “People have been very welcoming in Stoke. They like all the improvements to the shop. They are very pleased that there is Stoke Post Office on their doorstep without the need to go into town.
“There are no banks in the area, but people can come here to do their everyday banking, which is very handy for customers, especially as Stoke Post Office is open daily from early until late. This will make a real difference to people’s lives as they can also pay bills and do top ups, send mail, do home shopping returns and collect parcels.”
Post Office Area Manager, Amanda McGinley, said: “We are delighted to have been able to re-open Stoke Post Office as we know how important a Post Office is to a community. Maadura really cares about the community that she serves as shown by this new-look Premier convenience store and Post Office. Maadura is keen to spread the word about all the Post Office services now available and all the improvements made to the shop since taking over.”
The first customer served after the official opening is Clare Hearl, who runs from The Crafty Black Dog. Clare was a serving veteran, who learnt arts and crafts, whilst receiving therapy for PTSD and has now developed her love for crafts into a business and will use Stoke Post Office to customers across the UK. Luke Pollard, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for the Armed Forces), chatted to Clare about her business and experiences.