New post office for Derby city centre
A NEW post office will open in Derby city centre, replacing two branches that are to close.
The Crown Post Office branches in Midland Road and Victoria Street will close in May.
A more "modern" branch will open in Babington Court, Babington Lane.
It will offer a range of services, with longer opening hours and an open-plan layout to offer ample space and better access.
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There will be ten counter positions, as well as four self-serve "post & go" terminals.
The new branch will have two rooms where customers will be able to get advice on matters such as mortgages and credit cards.
Nick Carroll, regional manager, said: "Merging these two branches into a new, modern, fully equipped post office in newly refurbished premises will secure the long-term viability of Crown Post Office services in Derby City, benefiting our customers.
"We understand how important Post Office services are to people in Derby.
"We want to make it easier for customers to do business with us through opening a new branch in a more central location."
The move comes as the Midland Road and Victoria Street Crown branches have seen a decline in customers.
City councillor Gulfraz Nawaz has described the move as "cost-cutting" at the expense of people in the community.
Speaking when the proposals were mooted, Mr Nawaz said: "I think these plans will affect a lot of people.
"Some people wouldn't be able to make the trip and this facility shouldn't be taken away.
"The facility has been there for years and I would say it is cost-cutting and saving money at the expense of people in the community."
The new store will offer customers the usual range of services with longer opening hours, from 8.30am until 6pm in weekdays – apart from Tuesday, when doors will open at 9am.
Saturday times will be 9am to 5.30pm.
It will be closed on Sundays.
Readers on the Telegraph's thisisderbyshire.co.uk website said it was bad news.
"It is just another nail in the coffin for Victoria Street," said one poster, named georgiesmum. And janine2011 wrote: "So the elderly have to walk all the way UPHILL towards Babington Lane then UPHILL again to use the post office. Way to go idiots. They will close that when no one uses it because it is too far out of the city centre."
19 Comments
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by Shaky101
Thursday, March 21 2013, 4:02PM
“I think it would have been better to make a small one across the road from Westfield, leave Midland Road (but acquire some customer parking for it using the same format Matalan do) and relocate Victoria street to a site closer to the bus station. You have to follow the footfall if you're going to move.
Generally though the post office as a business needs to change to survive. Most branches are open 9-5, extend standard business hours to 7pm, maybe open earlier too, open on weekends (both days). They should also try to acquire contracts with amazon and other large online retailers to allow people to "pickup at your local post office". Sites like Next or M&S allow you t buy online and they will either deliver to the door, or have instore delivery. That could be extended to "local post office" where for 50p, you could save yourself a drive to a retail park or parking at Westfield etc by picking up your online shopping at a local post office.”
by janine2011
Thursday, March 21 2013, 2:57PM
“mr lupo, too far from Victoria Street. Good job I can buy stamps from anywhere and don't need to queue for them either.”
by Monsieur_Lupo
Thursday, March 21 2013, 2:03PM
“janine2011 - How far from 'town' is Babington Lane?”
by JonBoyWalton
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:56PM
“Yes, Centurion040, lots of people do.
However they seem to be intent on making it harder and harder for people to use the royal mail for posting anything other than letters. They also seem incredibly focussed on becoming a bank.
I fail to see how anyone taking even the briefest of walks around derby town centre would claim Babbington lane is more central than Victoria street.
I can see the arguments on accessibility internally though - I guess the great big pillars are structural so they can't open up the customer area any further.”
by siperdan
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:50PM
“Although there is a little incline to the junction of Gower St/Babington Lane to the new Post Office, I notice many people manage the incline to The Babington Arms on a regular basis and the Jobcentre.”
by siperdan
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:48PM
“Although there is a little incline to the junction of Gower St/Babington Lane to the new Post Office, I notice many people manage the incline to The Babington Arms on a regular basis and the Jobcentre.”
by HateTheGame
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:12PM
“Midland Rd consists of a Post Office and a Royal Mail Delivery Office. It is the Post Office that's being merged with the Victoria street branch. I guess the Delivery Office will stay, at least until it's moved to Nottingham.”
by Derbyborn1964
Thursday, March 21 2013, 1:11PM
“Derby is fast becoming a GHOST town”
by DerbyBorn
Thursday, March 21 2013, 12:20PM
“Am I confusing "Post Office" with "Royal Mail"? I am now thinking that the collection of parcels is a "Royal Mail" operation. However, I guess that the "Post Office" could be contracted by them to offer this facility.
I am confused!”
by Centurion040
Thursday, March 21 2013, 12:09PM
“Does anyone still actually go to the Post Office?”