Ballygally’s Post Office boosted by first-class revamp

Over the next three-years, the Post Office will invest £1.34 billion in a bid to modernise its network of branches across the UK.

The overhaul aims to give customers a better experience by reducing waiting times and providing extending opening hours.

And the Spar in Ballygally is the first retailer in the Larne Borough to benefit from the ‘local’ style open-plan model, which is designed to allow Post Office services to operate in convenience-type stores.

The model combines the post office and the retail aspect of the shop, enabling customers to avail of services such as pension collection, electricity top ups and sending packages at the till.

Shop owner Grahame Todd told the Times that the new model had been piloted in the branch for a number of months and proved to be “a real hit” with customers.

The branch officially made the switch to the new ‘local’ style model earlier this month.

Post Office spokesperson for Northern Ireland Mandy Donaldson said: “We understand how important having a Post Office is to residents in Ballygally and we are confident that the Post Office local service will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

“This modernisation is part of a three-year investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office, that will see around 6,000 branches (about half the Post Office network) converting to new-style branches.”

She added: “The investment marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”