Stephen Kinnock MP for Aberafan Maesteg has today (29/8) performed the official opening of Maesteg Post Office with daily opening and significantly extended hours
Maesteg Post Office now has a permanent new location at Premier Store Commercial Street, 138 - 139 Commercial Street, Maesteg, CF34 9DW. A community celebration, with free refreshments, was held to mark the good news for Maesteg.
The new postmaster is Vijithan Singarajah, known by his customers as ViJi. In November he opened his Premier store, in what had been an empty building. He then successfully applied to take on Maesteg Post Office on a permanent basis which had been run by a temporary operator at Maesteg Market.
Two well-known familiar faces from that branch, Julie Grabham and Lynne Thomas, are working at the new location and extra people are now trained to run the Post Office.
Stephen Kinnock MP said: “This is wonderful news for Maesteg - a permanent Post Office with impressive opening hours from early until late, seven days a week, is a real boost for the town.
“I really want to congratulate postmaster ViJi Singarajah for his investment in Maesteg, transforming a once empty shop into a vibrant, welcoming store and taking on the Post Office as well. This is not just a business success - it’s a valuable service for the community, supporting local residents and businesses. It’s fantastic news for the town.”
Maesteg Postmaster ViJi Singarajah, from Port Talbot, said: “Word is spreading that the branch is open at the new location from early until late every day and it no longer closes at lunch time. Customers are really pleased as it gives them more choice of when to visit, which is important as people live busy lives.
“We are in the heart of the community in Commercial Street. I did a major refurbishment of the empty premises to create a modern looking convenience store last November and I’m proud to now have my first Post Office. Julie and Lynne, who worked at the previous branch are now working here and we wanted the Post Office to open throughout the store’s opening hours, so more people have received Post Office training too.”
There are two Post Office counters alongside the retail counter and the branch is open the same hours as the Premier store: Monday to Friday: 7am – 10pm; Saturday: 8am – 10pm Sunday: 9am – 10pm.
This provides 102 hours of Post Office service a week which is more than doubled. The extra hours include all-day Sunday, Saturday afternoon, earlier opening and much later closing. The branch also no longer closes for lunch. This makes it much easier for customers to visit at a time that suits them.
Maesteg Post Office now offers a full range of foreign currencies, which it did not before.
People can also do their everyday personal and business banking including cash and cheque deposits, cash withdrawals and balances.
Fiona Shanahan, Post Office Area Change Manager, said: “We know how important a Post Office is to a community and we are delighted branch in the town again and with the benefit of much longer opening hours than before.”