Tonbridge town centre has a post office again, after Tonbridge & Malling Council offered space at the 13th century medieval castle.
When the new ‘pop-up’ location opened last Friday, the town centre had not had a post office since July, when the town’s WHSmith shop closed, leaving the nearest post offices at York Parade and Higham Wood.
The new pop-up Post Office will be based at the Council’s Gateway building attached to the castle’s 13th century gatehouse, and information posters will indicate which of the two entrances is best to use at the castle.
The premises are upstairs, but can be accessed by lift or stairs. The office will be open Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, 9am-4:30pm on Friday and 9am12:30pm on Saturdays. Cllr Vivian Branson, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “I’m so pleased that we’ve been able to step in and provide a temporary home for the services which are essential to so many of our residents rather than see our town centre left without a Post Office.
“However, Tonbridge needs a full service available so we will continue our dialogue with the Post Office and do everything we possibly can to support its search for a permanent and easily accessible base.” Emily Clive, Post Office Network Provision Lead, said: “We are delighted to have a temporary Post Office in central Tonbridge again as we know how important a Post Office is to a community.
“We sincerely thank Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council for working with us to find this suitable location, in this fantastic setting, while we continue to look for a permanent solution.
“We thank you for your patience while we worked to overcome technical issues to open the branch this week,” she added.
The new Post Office location opened with one counter, but cannot offer passport check and send, Parcelforce Worldwide services, driving licence renewals, vehicle tax, travel money, international driving permits and National Express Services. All of these services are available at Five Ways Post Office in Tunbridge Wells, said the Post Office.
When the new ‘pop-up’ location opened last Friday, the town centre had not had a post office since July, when the town’s WHSmith shop closed, leaving the nearest post offices at York Parade and Higham Wood.
The new pop-up Post Office will be based at the Council’s Gateway building attached to the castle’s 13th century gatehouse, and information posters will indicate which of the two entrances is best to use at the castle.
The premises are upstairs, but can be accessed by lift or stairs. The office will be open Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm, 9am-4:30pm on Friday and 9am12:30pm on Saturdays.
Cllr Vivian Branson, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “I’m so pleased that we’ve been able to step in and provide a temporary home for the services which are essential to so many of our residents rather than see our town centre left without a Post Office.
“However, Tonbridge needs a full service available so we will continue our dialogue with the Post Office and do everything we possibly can to support its search for a permanent and easily accessible base.”
Emily Clive, Post Office Network Provision Lead, said: “We are delighted to have a temporary Post Office in central Tonbridge again as we know how important a Post Office is to a community.
“We sincerely thank Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council for working with us to find this suitable location, in this fantastic setting, while we continue to look for a permanent solution.
“We thank you for your patience while we worked to overcome technical issues to open the branch this week,” she added.
The new Post Office location opened with one counter, but cannot offer passport check and send, Parcelforce Worldwide services, driving licence renewals, vehicle tax, travel money, international driving permits and National Express Services. All of these services are available at Five Ways Post Office in Tunbridge Wells, said the Post Office.
