A pop-up Post Office has opened at a Lake District train station – and let’s hope the postmaster doesn’t get locked in.
Oxenholme station is the first on the West Coast Mainline to offer the counter service – two years after the village’s branch closed for good.
Phil Ballantyne, who runs Appleby Post Office, and his staff will be on hand for two hours on Mondays and two hours on Wednesdays for people to use Post Office services.
Avanti West Coast, which runs the station, has worked with Mr Ballantyne and Westmorland & Lonsdale MP Tim Farron to bring the service to Oxenholme.
The pop-up facility will be available in the station’s ticket office.
Mr Ballantyne became a postmaster in 2002 after taking over his mum and dad’s business in Houghton. For the last eight years, he and his team have been providing an outreach service across 10 communities in Cumbria and Lancashire.
Services on offer include sending letters, returning parcels, banking, bill payments and changing currency. This service is being trialled two days a week to establish if there is demand for a more frequent service in the longer term.
The Oxenholme Post Office will be open from 11am to 1pm on Mondays and 12.30pm to 2.30pm on Thursdays.
Mr Ballantyne said: “I know how important it is for people in rural places to have access to essential Post Office services – not only does it enable them to carry out everyday errands, but it also brings a sense of community and company for some.
“So, I’m excited to be expanding my operation to serve Oxenholme with Post Office services they need. As a gateway to the Lakes, Oxenholme station will be a great place to meet people from all walks of life and I look forward to saying hello during my weekly visits.”
Mr Farron added: “After two-and-a-half years of working with Avanti West Coast and local councillors, I’m delighted that we have finally secured a new post office for Oxenholme. This is a key local service that residents have been deprived of ever since the previous post office closed just before the pandemic, so it’s great news that it’s now open and in a prime location.”
Matthew Worman, regional growth manager at Avanti West Coast, said: “We want to make a difference in the communities we serve and support causes that matter most to them, which is why we’re proud to be hosting a pop-up Post Office for the village of Oxenholme.
“Like the Post Office, we connect people, and wanted to play our part to restore access to essential services by utilising space at the station to keep the community connected. It’s exciting this facility is the first of its kind on our West Coast route.
“We’re pleased to welcome Phil to Oxenholme and hope to see both new and familiar faces using the services, as well as visitors writing home about their adventures to the Lake District.”
