New-look post office is open for business (From Ilkley Gazette)

Ilkley Post Office now open longer hours

9:00am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Amanda Greaves

The Lord Mayor of Bradford and Ilkley and Keighley MP Kris Hopkins performed the official opening of the new-look Ilkley Post Office.
The town’s main post office, in Station Plaza, recently closed for ten days for modernisation.
As well as a refit and decoration, the much-used central Post Office at Unit 9, Station Plaza, is now opening longer from Monday to Saturday.
Regional representatives of the Post Office were also at the opening ceremony, as well as one of the Ilkley Post Office’s most loyal customers, Edith Kup, who is in her 90s.
The refitted shop includes a retail counter, for sales of lottery tickets as well as stamps and stationery, two open-plan serving points, and two traditional style serving points with full screens.
As well as offering postal services, stamps, and a bureau de change, the branch offers Post Office financial services.
The network says this is a new concept for delivering Post Office products and services alongside retail transactions during shop opening hours.
The changes bring the Ilkley branch in line with other new-style branches across the country.
The Post Office network has embarked on a three-year investment programme, the largest in the history of the organisation. This will see 6,000 branches, about half of the total Post Office network, converted to the new-style branches.
Post Office bosses say the investment makes a commitment to no more branch closure programmes. They said the modernised Ilkley Post Office service would needs of the local community and secure services for the future.
Post Office regional network manager for Central England, Adrian Wales, said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Ilkley and we are confident this new service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.
The new-look Ilkley office is now open for an additional 11 hours each week, from 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Saturday.
While the central Ilkley Post Office was closed, customers were directed to post offices in Ben Rhydding, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Addingham and Otley for services only offered at the larger branches.
Staff were also sent to nearby post offices to help handle the increase in business during the refurbishment.