Post Office and shop reopens in tight-knit village near Kent which hasn’t had one for 14 months

A Post Office and shop near Tunbridge Wells which was shut for 14 months, has reopened under new owners. The branch and Premier store on The Green in the village of Frant close to the Kent border, has been refurbished along with the cafe next door.

The business is in East Sussex and Wealden MP Nusrat Ghani was there on Friday to cut the ribbon. The Post Office described the new postmaster Paramanathan Nisanathan as “experienced”.

Ninety-one hours of Post Office service each week will be given, which is an extra 45 hours than previously, said the Post Office. People will be able to access their accounts at main UK banks at the new branch. Services include bill payments, cash withdrawals and pre-order foreign currency, postage, home shopping collections and returns.

As KentLive first reported in December last year after being contacted by locals, the Post Office was considering an application to reopen the village branch. It had been shut since February last year, as we also previously reported.

Mr Nisanathan had wanted to join both premises but the building’s listed status meant he couldn’t secure planning permission, he said. The listed status of the building also caused delays to opening, he added.

Instead he has modernised both parts. There is more retail space now and new fridges and freezers for chilled and frozen food, along with drinks.

Paramanathan and his wife Nityapiraba, have four shops in Kent. Nityapiraba will continue to run their other Post Office in the village of Crockenhill, Swanley, which they have had for five years. They have newly-trained staff at Frant.

Mr Nisanathan said: “The community is really pleased to have a Post Office in the heart of the village again and we are sorry that this took much longer than we planned. We are used to serving Kent communities with our other shops and we are enjoying to get to know the people of Frant.”

“The branch is now open daily from early until late, so it’s very easy to pop in. People can do their everyday banking here, send and return parcels and to play the lottery. Our café also serves breakfast, sandwiches, cakes, drinks and snacks.”

The parish council had last year described the post office and shop as a “vital asset and function of the village” and wanted to see them “reopened as soon as possible”.

After its closure, locals had to travel more than two miles to Hawkenbury, Ramslye or the High Street in Tunbridge Wells. As we previously reported, the building is Grade II listed, built in the early to mid 19th Century. An old colourised photograph shows the Post Office Stores in 1930.

Ms Ghani said: “The Post Office provides vital services, which are key for residents of our rural constituency. I have been working with several communities across Sussex Weald to keep our Post Offices from Groombridge to Hailsham open and thriving, and I am pleased that following months of temporary closure, Frant’s services have now been restored and expanded under a new ownership.

“Paramanathan and Nityapiraba have done a fantastic job in modernising the Post Office and enhancing it with a café, and I wish them all the very best for the years ahead.”

Post Office area change manager Noah Rai, said: “We know how important a Post Office is to a community and we are delighted to have re-opened Frant Post Office. The opening hours make it easy to visit.”

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