New Post Office officially opens in Inverness
A new Post Office has officially opened in Inverness.
MSP Fergus Ewing "cut the ribbon" today to mark the opening at the SPAR, in Drummond Road.
This store has been owned for the past seven years by entrepreneur Rajkumar Dhanaraj and his wife Dr Saranya Selvaraj, a dentist.
MSP Fergus Ewing said: “I want to congratulate Mr. Rajkumar Dhanaraj and Dr Saranya Selvaraj for successfully applying to open this brand-new Post Office inside their well- stocked convenience store which is there for several decades.
“I am delighted that Inverness has another full-time Post Office. The long daily opening hours make it very easy to pop for a wide variety of services including posting, banking, bill payments, home shopping returns, car tax renewal and travel money.”
The new branch offers customers a range of Post Office services, from posting letters and parcels to collecting and returning online shopping items. Customers can also get access to banking services including cash withdrawals and balance enquiries for customers of all the main UK banks. This branch also offers car tax renewal and pre-order travel money.
Rajkumar Dhanaraj worked for Marks and Spencer for many years and used to own a petrol station business. The Culduthel Road SPAR is the couple’s first convenience store.
They also have a brewery, KOMPASSION Kombucha in Elgin producing Kombucha - a sparkling fermented tea drink, with different flavours.
Owner Rajkumar Dhanaraj said: “This store has a special place in my heart. This shop is at the centre of a community and the people here are lovely and I have got to know people really well over the last seven years. I have built up the retail range over theyears with our own fresh food to go.
“I have lots of loyal customers. Since the Post Office opened, I have seen new faces too, which has been great. As well as serving the residential area around us, the store is on a main road with lots of passing trade and it’s close to the council offices. There is a car park with lots of spaces. Customers used to comment that it would be handy to have a Post Office here and Post Office Ltd could see that there was a real need too.”
The new Post Office is open daily: 7am – 9pm. A Mobile Post Office had operated in Tomatin Road every Wednesday for two hours a week. The new branch has replaced this service.
David Duff, Post Office network provision manager, added: “We want to make it as easy as possible for customers to pay their bills, withdraw cash from their bank accounts, and send and collect their mail at a time and place that suits them best. We know how important our services are to customers, and we are confident that this brand-new Post Office alongside the other branches in the area at Crown, Drumblair and Inshes will ensure that people in this area of Inverness have easy access to our services.”
