Main Post Office to move across street?

The proposed new base for the branch are premises 35 metres away formerly occupied by Solomon Grundy’s restaurant and Post Office say this will create a modern open-plan branch with extended opening hours for customers.

The company has also said there will be no compulsory redundancies as a result and that it will be working to ensure “the needs of branch colleagues are met, whether that is a transfer to the new employer or redeployment in the Post Office”.

Their statement also revealed that EMG Trading (Ballymena) Ltd., a family-run business, offering convenience shopping “have demonstrated to Post Office Ltd that they will be able to successfully run Ballymena Post Office”.

Roger Gale, Crown Network General Manager, said: “We are committed to keeping a Post Office branch in Ballymena and to maintaining the same levels of service for our customers. We believe the best way for us to do this is to change the way we operate the branch, so if the move goes ahead it will be run by EMG Trading (Ballymena) Ltd rather than by us directly.”

Post Office is currently inviting customers and interested parties to give their comments on the proposal in a six-week public consultation which runs until November 27, with February next year the proposed month for relocation.

The company is also holding a customer information forum in the Braid this Thursday, October 24, from 4.30pm which is open to all.

Subject to consultation, Ballymena Post Office will, following its move, have five serving positions. These will be a mixture of one screened and three open-plan counters, with a Post Office serving point at the retail counter that will be available during shop opening hours (54 hours per week) and which will be dedicated to providing Post Office services during busy periods.

During the consultation, submissions can be made at postofficeviews.co.uk, by FREEPOST Your Comments to Post Office Ltd, via email to [email protected], via the Customer Helpline on 08457223344. Customers are asked to quote branch code 003702 in all communications.

Meanwhile, The Communication Union (CWU) has called a public meeting in The Braid on Tuesday, October 29, at 7pm, on the theme “Save Ballymena Crown Post Office”.

Speakers will include CWU representative Carl Maden, local councillors and MLAs, and a representative from The Post Office has also been invited to attend.