THE Post Office at Whitchurch will have a new look soon, thanks to a £20,000 grant from Post Office Ltd. Together with a major £60,000 investment by Whitchurch PO owners Vicky and Terry Kelly, the special Rural Investment Grant will provide a new post office counter and the creation of a second open plan post office position alongside the retail counter. There will also be a full refurbishment of the post office and convenience store, providing for a significant increase in retail space, store room, improved staff facilities, a new office area and post office signage. Vicky Kelly, Whitchurch sub-postmaster, said: ?We are all very excited by this development. ?We are determined to secure the future of the village store by continuing to provide a first class service to the local community. ?We are confident that the creation of a modern, bright and vibrant convenience store and post office branch will help us to secure our objectives.? Mr and Mrs Kelly have run the post office and stores for almost five years. Local builders Anchor Developments begin work on the project at the end of September, with a planned completion date of March 2006. During this time, the branch will continue to offer full post office services from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 1pm Saturday. Extended opening hours will mean that selected post office services will be available on the new open plan position from 7am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 7am to 1pm on Sunday. The first phase of work to improve the premises is already underway with the construction of a new roof. The couple, who live on the premises with their son, Daniel, 17, plan a further investment, on top of the £60,000, with an extension for their own living accommodation.
