Stretford Town Centre appoints new Post Master

The new permanent Post Office in Stretford town centre will be opening its doors on Chester Road in September and will be managed by experienced Post Master Arif Matadar. In the meantime it will have a new temporary home at 48-49 Broady Street next to the Pound Bakery. The aim is to open this short term location in the next month, subject to the Post Office head office completing the necessary contracts. When it does open it will offer all the usual services. Business hours will be 9.00am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday and 9.00 - 2.00pm on a Saturday.

Arif is an experienced Post Master and also owns and manages five other Post Offices around Greater Manchester.

The timings of the opening and closures are:
WHSmith Post Office will close on 17th June 2023.
Post office services are now available at Chorlton Post Office and A&S Off License on Barton Road, Stretford offers Drop & Collect and Payzone services.
A temporary Post Office located at 48-49 Broady Street in Stretford will open this month, subject to the Post Office confirming the date.
The permanent Post Office opens at 123 Chester Road (old Ladbrokes site) in late summer 2023.

There will be a period of transition as the current Post Office in WHSmith closes, and the temporary one opens. During this time the Post Office in Chorlton, located at 543 Wilbraham Road, is available as an alternative and provides the same services as the Stretford branch. This can be reached by bus and by car. Bus number 25 from Stretford Mall (stop B) to Wilbraham Road (Stop H) is a seven minute bus ride and then it’s a three minute walk from stop H to the Chorlton Post Office.

For drivers there is parking available at The Square Shopping Centre Car Park, M21 9AS.

Commentating on the opening, Area Retail Manager for Stretford Mall, Gareth Wilkins, said:
“We have been working with the Post Office for some time to ensure there is an ongoing Post Office facility in the town for the local community. We are delighted that they have now appointed a new Post Master and that a new permanent site has been secured on Chester Road which will open in September. We understand how important this service is for the community and so we have set up a temporary home for the Post Office within the Mall, which will open within the month and will provide core services for the community in the interim period before the permanent site opens in September. We are waiting to hear from the Post Office about an opening date for the temporary site and as soon as we know we will update the local community.”

Post Master Arif Matadar, added:
“I am delighted to be the new Post Master for the Stretford Post Office and look forward to supporting the local community and becoming an important part of day to day life here in the area. Myself and my team have plenty of experience in running such a vital service and can’t wait to meet everyone and to be part of such a thriving area.”

Trafford Council Leader, Cllr Tom Ross, said: “The opening of the new Post Office in Stretford is
fantastic news for the community. We are working with Bruntwood to totally transform Stretford town centre and it is vital that a post office is included in the plans.The temporary post office will provide all the services you need until the permanent one opens in September. Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard on this.”