For this month’s Member Spotlight, we hear from the recently relocated Post Office, who have been under the leadership of the Post Master Siva for almost twenty years!
“The Post Master of the Kingston Upon Thames Branch Office Mr A.Sivabalan (Siva) has accrued nearly two decades experience in running the combined Post Office and convenience store, having operated the Eden Street branch since November 2002.
The Kingston Upon Thames branch was upgraded to a Main Post Office in 2013 with mega refurbishment and was a centre point for all products and services of the Post Office which included: mails, parcels, AEI, passport checking, identity verification and issuing of BRP’s for home office. With the unprecedented and extraordinary turn of events with the onset of the pandemic, as an essential service provider this Post Office remained open right throughout the lockdown period helping the community in the heart of the Town.
Due to the urban regeneration programme in the local area the branch was asked to vacate its premises at Eden Street and find a new home for serving the community. It was a tough ask with an ongoing pandemic but with the kind assistance of our Councillors Mr Yogan, Mr John Sweeney and Kingston First Chief Executive, Kirsten Henly, the branch did succeed in securing a star class location in the centre of the town.
The new Post Office branch at the Bentall Centre was ceremonially relaunched on 9 July 2021 by Sir Ed Davey along with Councillors Caroline Kerr, John Sweeney and Rebecca Moll.
Looking back over the last few months since 11 April 2021 when we reluctantly had to close our branch temporarily to move into the new premises seems quite surreal. The amount of work, meetings and visits by various authorities that went into getting the required outcome was astounding but then the end results at the current premises is great as already heard from many of our regular and faithful customers.”
The branch can be found in the Lower Ground Floor of the Bentall Centre and is open 7 days a week. Opening hours and more information on services available here.
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