2 February 2015
To celebrate the launch of modern new-look Hollingsworth Road Post Office and Nisa convenience store, Waveney MP Peter Aldous ‘cut the ribbon’ at an opening ceremony on Friday 30 January.
 
Postmaster Miss Jayshree Odedra has marked the 20th anniversary of owning the convenience store at 65-67 Hollingsworth Road, Lowestoft, NR32 4AT and the 10th anniversary of the Post Office moving to her premises by completely modernising the entire Post Office and shop. The entire layout of the store has changed.
 
There are now two main screened Post Office counters at the rear of the store, which are open Monday – Saturday 9am – 5.30pm. There is also a Post Office serving point for use at the retail counter, offering selected services which is now available during shore opening hours Monday to Saturday: 8am to 8pm and Sunday; 10am to 4pm.
 
Post Office services are now available an extra 32 hours a week including Sunday and earlier opening and later closing every day. This gives customers more choice when to visit. The car tax renewal service has also been added for customer convenience and the eight most popular foreign currencies are now available on demand.
 
Peter Aldous MP said: “I am delighted to be here to congratulate dedicated Postmaster Miss Odedra on the significant investment that she has carried out to completely modernise the whole store, including the Post Office. She has shown real loyal commitment to Hollingsworth Road. The whole store looks really great. The new Post Office opening hours will make it much easier for customers to visit and the car tax renewal service and foreign currencies now available on demand will be very handy.”
 
The changes are part of a major modernisation programme across the Post Office network designed to make it easier for customers to do business, through longer opening hours and modern environments.
 
Miss Odedra, said: “Customers are very happy and impressed with the changes that I have made. It is now light bright, modern and airy. There is now more space for the Post Office and the store, which has allowed me to extend the retail range. We are conveniently located in Hollingsworth with lots of free parking outside and the new Post Office opening hours will help people with busy lives to pop into my branch.”
 
At Hollingsworth Road Post Office you can do everything from cash withdrawals from a Post Office Card Account, send funds abroad using Moneygram, pay bills, buy holiday money, get insurance, mortgages, savings and top up mobile phones. Customers will be able to access a wide range of Post Office and mails services, including international parcels, Special Delivery, Local Collect and home shopping returns. As the traditional banking network declines, customers for the majority (95%) of UK banks can use their post office for online banking cash deposits and withdrawals and bill payments.
 
Gary Herbert, Post Office Senior Stakeholder Manager, said: “We know how important Post Office services are to residents in Hollingsworth and we are confident this vibrant modern Post Office, at the heart of the community, will be popular. The modernisation is part of a major Government investment programme enabling us to continue investing in the Post Office network and to map out a bold growth strategy to the end of the decade.”