Liberal Democrat Councillors Call for Interim Post Office in Haxby as Closure Looms

Liberal Democrat Councillors in Haxby and Wigginton are calling on the Post Office to urgently provide a temporary post office in the centre of Haxby, as it becomes increasingly likely that the town will be left without vital postal services for several weeks.

The current Post Office, housed within Morrisons, is due to close imminently. While Morrisons has agreed to extend the closure date by four weeks, providing a brief reprieve, the Post Office has confirmed that it is not currently pursuing any interim solution to cover the period between the closure of the existing branch and the opening of a new permanent site.

In recent correspondence with local councillors, the Post Office stated that all available resources are being focused on finding a permanent replacement and ensuring continued service is not a priority. 

Local Liberal Democrat councillors say this is not good enough.

Cllr Ian Cuthbertson, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Haxby and Wigginton said: 

“Residents use the Post Office for postal services but also for banking, bill payments, and community support. It is unacceptable that Haxby could be left without any provision for weeks on end. We are urging the Post Office to reconsider and commit to opening an interim branch to keep services continuously running in the heart of our village. One option we have proposed is the use of a mobile post office, a solution already used successfully in other rural areas facing similar gaps in provision.”"

Cllr Richard Watson of Haxby and Wigginton, added:

“The Post Office is a lifeline for many people, especially older residents and those without easy access to transport. A gap in provision would be deeply damaging, leaving many residents who cannot travel to Huntington or Strensall without a service for weeks, potentially months. We're pressing hard for a temporary solution, and we encourage local residents to make their voices heard.” 

The Post Office has indicated that their Network team has visited Haxby and is in early discussions with interested parties about a new permanent location. However, no timeline has yet been given for when a new branch might be operational.

In the meantime, Haxby’s Liberal Democrat councillors are continuing to lobby for an urgent rethink to avoid any service disruption. Residents can still sign their petition at this link to add their voice against any gap in service.