Dobcross Post Office re-opens

Dobcross post office

Relieved villages are celebrating the reopening of a vital community lifeline ... a post office.

Dobcross Post Office has re-opened  with village couple Brian and Andjelka Hodgkinson, assisted by Tim Newbold, behind the counter.

The couple began their Post Office application in November 2018, and Brian, who has already reopened  the popular Village Store, said: “We suffered all sorts of delays and complications.

“But we finally went operational on the afternoon of Mid-Summer’s day — a  day that will from now on be always etched on my memory.”

The post office will currently continue with the operating hours of:
08.30 to 13.00 hrs and 14.00 to 17.30 hrs Monday to Friday.
08.30 to 12.30 hrs Saturday.

The Post Office is closed on Sunday but the shop is open from 08.30 to 11.30 for newspapers, provisions.
 
Brian went on: “We are open for all the usual range of postal services, stamp sales, mail dispatch, collection and other services.

“However,  the aspect of the business that will probably prove equally as popular is the banking, as we can accept deposits, payment of bills, and offer cash withdrawals. 

“So now there is no need for people to have to trek into Oldham and endure the hassle of the banks there, when they can carry out the majority of banking tasks right here in Dobcross.”
 
Post Office services at the Woods Lane premises ceased last summer with the village store closing in November.

But  Brian and his wife, decided to take on the businesses, and have a agreed a minimum one-year contract with mail bosses.

He told Dobcross Diary: “After much soul searching as to whether or not we wanted the hassle of running a business again at our time of life, we decided for the benefit of the village to give it one last shot.

“Consequently, last November I embarked on the long and sometimes tortuous application and interview process with the Post Office.

“But now,  having successfully passed through all the stages, I put a signature on a contract, which commits us to operate the Post Office for a minimum of one year.

“We  look forward to welcoming villagers and all customers for all their  Post Office needs, as well as providing a good range of everyday food stuffs and groceries.”

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