Plan to Bring Back Haxby Post Office to be put to Town Council
Efforts to bring a Post Office back to Haxby are taking a step forward, with Haxby Town Council being asked to meet the initial cost of hosting a temporary new counter service at Oaken Grove Community Centre.
The proposal, brokered by Haxby and Wigginton’s Lib Dem councillors has been developed in partnership with Post Office Ltd and Haxby and Wigginton Youth and Community Association (which operates Oaken Grove). It will see the much-needed service return to the heart of the community for a trial of up to six months.
Oaken Grove Community Centre received significant investment under the last Lib Dem administration of City of York Council, allowing it to host the Haxby and Wigginton Library, and it now also hosts several other community services - such as a cafe and part time banking service, following the closure of the last bank in Haxby in October 2022.
Haxby Post Office closed in May 2025, when the Morrisons Daily Store that hosted it closed. The local Liberal Democrat councillors immediately started a petition which reached over 1000 signatures calling for it to return as soon as possible. However, efforts to find a permanent home for a post office in the centre of the community have been slowed by the lack of available space. This highlighted the need for a temporary post office to provide a service until a long term home can be found.
To support the plans to reach this temporary solution, the Liberal Democrat ward councillors are committing £1,100 from their ward funding to help bridge the gap. They are asking Haxby Town Council for supporting in meeting the remaining cost.
The formal decision is due to be made at the 4th August meeting of Haxby Town Council, and if approved, would allow preparations to begin on bringing Post Office services back to Haxby, possibly within a month.
Cllr Ian Cuthbertson said:
“We know how essential a Post Office is for so many people in Haxby, particularly older residents and those without easy access to transport. Hosting the service, temporarily at Oaken Grove, whilst a permanent solution is explored, is the practical option, and I’m really hopeful we’re now close to getting this over the line.”
Cllr Richard Watson added:
“We’ve worked hard to get to this point, and I’m proud that our ward funding will be used to directly support something so important. There are still hurdles to jump in terms of the post office finding temporary staff and making sure the proposal doesn’t adversely affect the operations of the community centre, but we’re confident these can be ironed out.”
Cllr Andrew Hollyer said:
“This is about delivering real, local solutions to real, local needs. Our thanks go to Oaken Grove Community Centre for stepping up and agreeing to host the service, and to the Town Council for considering helping with the funding. We look forward to working with all parties further as the plans develop. If any resident can help with funding or has any ideas for a permanent solution for a Post Office please do get in touch with us.”