• Chris Evans MP visits relocated Crumlin Post Office, shop and brand-new café goes from strength to strength
• Postmistress also now provides new Mobile Post Office services for 20 communities
Chris Evans, MP for Islwyn has visited relocated Crumlin Post Office to see and hear about the relocated branch and shop, plus a new café that has just opened. He cut a ribbon to celebrate the completion of the major project.
Postmistress Gaynor Hopkins also started operating a brand-new Mobile Post Office in October and extra stops have since been added. Now 20 communities are visited each week.
Chris Evans MP said: “I want to congratulate Gaynor Hopkins for everything that she is doing for so many communities in Wales. I know that many other MPs are also delighted with this brand-new Mobile service to their constituents.
“It has been a busy and exciting past year for Gaynor planning the relocation of Crumlin Post Office and shop, the successful move across the road and now adding a café. Added to which Gaynor has started operating a Mobile Post Office that serves 20 communities.”
Gaynor has been Postmistress for Crumlin for seven years run. With the help of her two daughters Chloe Bull and Carly Bull they run the Post Office and village shop in Main Street, Crumlin, Newport.
They felt that they had outgrown the previous premises and they decided to move across the road to larger premises. The former Crumlin O.A.P Hall had been empty for a year and was not going to re-open as a meeting place.
Crumlin Post Office relocated in August. There are two Post Office counters alongside the retail counter. The bigger premises gave extra space to greatly increase the retail range of the store this was completed in the first phase of the move. Now a community café has recently been completed.
Previous members of the OAP hall committee have thanked Gaynor for making good use of the building for a Post Office, larger shop and community café.
Postmistress Gaynor Hopkins said: “We had known for a couple of years that the previous shop was too small to grow our business, but we did not far. When the chance to move to bigger premises across the road we went for it. People are over the moon with the new store, Post Office and café. We are glad that we could put the building to good use. Once again it a good place for meet to stop and chat with others from the community at the café. People come in to visit the Post Office, enjoy refreshments and do their shopping on their way out. There is a really good atmosphere.”
In October Gaynor also started a brand-new Mobile Post Office service in Wales. This incorporated four outreach Post Office services that she already operated at Trinant, Cwm, Six Bells and Llanhilleth.
It also restored service to 12 communities – Gwaelod-y-Garth, Efail Isaf, Pant, Tylorstown, Cross Inn, Cwmaman, Bedlinog, Gelligaer, Markham, Highlight Park, Colcot Road and Merthyr Dyfan to the delight of residents and businesses.
The Mobile has proved to be a great way to serve rural communities, providing a wide range of products and services including cash withdrawals, banking on behalf of all the high street banks, mails, home shopping returns and bill payment. Customers can pre-order foreign currency.
Last month four extra communities were added to maintain service to the communities. Maesycwmmer, Penllwyn, Pontllanfraith and Elliots Town were added as the Postmaster for Penmaen had recently retired.
Gaynor said: “Communities are thrilled to bits that they have Post Office service again. The Mobiles are proving to be very sociable for communities. They chat to people they know and those from the community whilst they are waiting to be served or they combine it with a visit to the shops or a coffee with friends.”
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