A temporary Post Office for Milton Keynes will move to a new location next week. Work is still continuing to restore service at the permanent location after suspected arson in May.
· Interim Milton Keynes Post Office to open in shopping centre
· Opens next week at Unit 33 and 33a Midsummer Place, Milton Keynes, MK9 3GB
· To replace temp branch in Milton Keynes civic offices
· Work underway to complete refit of permanent location after fire
An interim Post Office has been operating from Milton Keynes City Council’s civic offices since July, which restored service to the community.
The extent of damage caused by the fire at the usual location of Unit N1 802 Midsummer Boulevard, has meant that repairs and refurbishment is taking longer than expected.
Regrettably, due to essential maintenance works needs to be carried out at the council offices, Post Office will not be able to use this premises; therefore, we need to close the current temporary branch on Friday 31 October at 6pm.
It will open at empty shop premises at Unit 33 and 33a Midsummer Place, Milton Keynes, MK9 3GB on Tuesday 4 November at 1pm. This premises was the former Clarendon Fine Art Gallery (opposite Five Guys) near the ‘Frog Clock’.
During the interim alternative branches include:
• Harrier Court Post Office, 2 Harrier Court, Eaglestone, MK6 5BZ
• Coffee Hall Post Office, Garroways, Coffeehall, Milton Keynes, MK6 5EG
• Shenley Church End, 4 Benbow Court, Shenley Church End, Milton Keynes, MK5 6JG
Paul Mead, Post Office Head of Directly Managed Branches, said: “We’re very grateful that Milton Keynes City Council, provided space for us at its council offices, which allowed us to restore service to the residents, businesses and shoppers in Milton Keynes. We fully
understand that the council needs to carry out essential maintenance work at its office, therefore, we need to vacate.
“Thankfully, we are able to quickly transform an empty shop in the main shopping centre to accommodate an interim Post Office until the permanent Post Office is ready to open.
“Staff have been amazing. They’ve been through the ordeal of the fire, and they’ve been loyally serving customers at the council offices and soon at the new temporary location.”
Furthermore, we now have a date when full Post Office services will be restored to its permanent location at Unit N1, 802 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 3QA on Wednesday 26 November at 1pm. The new interim service will close on Tuesday 25 November at 5.30pm.
Milton Keynes Post Office is currently directly managed by Post Office. As part of Post Office’s wider commitment to deliver a “New Deal for Postmasters” with increased remuneration, the Post Office is franchising all remaining 108 Directly Managed Branches which will create a long-term, sustainable future for post offices across the UK.
The service at the permanent location will then be operated by our agreed, retail partner Universal Office Equipment UK LTD (UOE).
Initially, there will be no retail at the branch with only Post Office services being available. UOE is making plans to offer their full stationery retail early next year, however UOE understand the importance of returning sustainable Post Office services to the community as soon as possible.
