KILDWICK and Farnhill Village Institute will become the centre of community life when the village's post office is relocated to the historic building in the near future.

For years the post office has been run from Farnhill Stores, Newby Road, but since 1992 its owner Michael Hilton has been trying to sell the business leaving an axe hanging over its future.

Two years ago the villagers tried to save the shop by forming a Community Shop Association (CSA) but their plans never reached fruition.

Earlier this year Craven planners approved an application by Mr Hilton to convert the shop into two houses.

At the time Consignia, which runs the post office, promised that if planning permission was granted, it would actively look for an alternative outlet for a sub post office in the village.

Now with the help of the village institute trustees and Mr Hilton, the post office will be relocated and run as a sub-post office from the institute.

Mr Hilton told the Herald: "All along I have been working with the post office and the trustees as I know how important it is to keep a rural post office going."

He added that work to convert the shop into housing would be phased and therefore he estimated the post office would not be relocated until the summer.

Helen Waller, of Farnhill, who is a trustee of the institute, added that it was also hoped a shop could be run from the institute at some point in the future.

She said: "Consignia have agreed that when the store closes the post office will be moved in to the institute. They are already looking for a sub-postmaster or mistress. We're also hoping to have some sort of village shop in there as well. We're currently approaching agencies for funding."

A spokeswoman for Consignia said: "We are happy with the offer from the village institute to house the post office but now we need to find someone to run it."

She added that although it was a bit too early to comment, the post office would probably be run as a community office on a part-time basis, potentially 20 hours per week. This would depend upon what other activities were taking place in the institute.

The arrival of the post office will not be the only change at the institute, with proposals to renovate the building gathering pace.

Three years ago, a public meeting was held on the future of the institute, which had fallen into disrepair. Residents said they wanted the institute to remain a village amenity, and a steering group was set up and gained trusteeship of the building.

Since that time, the nine trustees have been trying to find £186,000 to renovate the institute, which stands on Main Street, Farnhill.

The project includes providing disabled access, catering facilities and meeting rooms.

Mrs Waller, who is also project co-ordinator, said the long-term goal of the renovation plan was to increase the use made of the institute by village groups, and to bring the building up to modern standards in terms of disabled access and health and safety regulations.

Two previous lottery bids for funding have been unsuccessful.

It is now hoped a reduced lottery bid for part of the money will be successful and can be added to smaller grants from different agencies.

It is also hoped around £18,000 can be raised by fundraising events in the community and renovation work has been planned to start in the summer subject to the necessary funding being in place.

Members of the public are to be consulted on the plans at an awareness weekend to be held today (Friday) from 7pm to 9pm and tomorrow from 11.30am to 5pm. Everyone is welcome.

Mrs Waller added: "We're really wanting to get the local community involved in fundraising for the institute."

A series of events is being held to raise money for the institute project including a talk on mountaineering by Nigel Vardy at the institute on Friday April 19 at 7.30pm.

Tickets are available from Mrs Waller on 01535 633815 or any of the other trustees.