Town hall backing to keep post office open

Calderdale Council stepped in to safeguard the future of Mixenden Post Office after a deal with a potential buyer fell through.

Ramanlal Mistry has run the sub-post office for 30 years but it closed briefly in February after he announced his intention to retire.

Following a meeting between Calderdale Council and the Post Office, Mr Mistry put his retirement on hold until a more permanent solution could be found. But a deal with a potential buyer for the premises fell through last week and a further solution needed to be found.

Now Calderdale Council and the Post Office have agreed that an agent should come in to run Mixenden sub-post office temporarily.

Calderdale Council’s cabinet member, economy and environment, Councillor Barry Collins, said: “The post office is a true lifeline for Mixenden people. It is also a key part of our £2m re-development project for the centre of the community.

“We believe we have now won the clearest commitment that post office counter services will be maintained in Mixenden.”

Calderdale Council will part-fund the running cost of the building for the next three months. The money, just under £3,000, will form part of the scheme development costs for the proposed Mixenden Centre.

The new centre, a joint project between the council and Pennine Housing, will see new shops, a post office, library, offices and community facilities on the site of existing library and shop premises and the former Jumples pub.

Calderdale Council’s head of housing and environment, Mark Thompson, said: “The next nearest post offices are some two miles away, a long way for older people and those without cars. A post office will be a key element in the proposed new centre, so it makes sense that we ensure its continued presence at this time.”