‘Don’t close our post offices’

6:52pm Thursday 21st February 2008

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Protesters turned out in force this week to fight the proposed closure of seven Haringey post offices.

The cull was announced by the Post Office on Tuesday as part of a national restructuring which could see 2,500 branches permanently closed by 2009.

On the list to shut are post offices at: Weston Park, Hornsey; Ferme Park Road, Crouch End; Alexandra Park Road, Muswell Hill; Salisbury Road, Wood Green, West Green Road and Page Green, Tottenham, and High Street, Highgate.

The plans, which could see the loss of one in five of London's 854 branches, will be subject to a six-week public consultation.

They follow criteria set out by the Government after a national consultation last year revealed that customer numbers were plummeting and post offices were losing £4 million a week.

But the proposals have been criticised heavily this week, with around 200 people turning out to protest at the Alexandra Park Road branch on Wednesday.

Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, pledged to fight the closures "tooth and nail". She said: "These offices are the lynch pin for small parades and their closure could be the death knell for small independent retailers who rely on these post offices as a draw for customers."

Tottenham MP David Lammy said he was "saddened" by the news. He added: "Post offices play an important part in the social and economic life of all communities.

"Dave Morris, of the Foundation of Haringey Residents Associations, urged residents to participate in the consultation. He said: "These closures are unacceptable and we demand that they be halted."

Anita Turner, Post Office Ltd's Network Development Manager for London, said: "We want to ensure everyone is aware of the proposed changes and able to give views on them."

The public consultation period will run until April 2.

To express your views, write to Anita Turner, Network Development Manager, C/o National Consultation Team, Freepost consultation team; email consultation@postoffice.co.uk; or call 08457 22 33 44.

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