Liberal Democrat councillors have joined forces with the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, Lynne Featherstone and launched a petition to save sorting offices ear-marked for closure or due to be moved.

Royal Mail plan to close the Hornsey office on Tottenham Lane that serves the N8 area and move services to Hornsey Road, Holloway, which means residents will have to travel further to collect their undelivered parcels.

Royal Mail also plan to move services for the N6 area currently provided at the office on Hornsey Road, and the office at the Harringay Arena off Green Lanes (which serves the N4 and N15 area) to an industrial estate in Upper Holloway.

In total 25,293 addresses will be affected by the changes Royal Mail want to make.

Cllr Richard Wilson, Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader and one of the residents who will be affected by the changes, comments:

It is outrageous that Royal Mail are expecting Crouch End and Hornsey residents to travel all the way to Holloway to pick up undelivered parcels and registered post.  There isn’t even a direct bus from many parts of the N8 area.  The current office on Tottenham Lane opposite Hornsey train station is much more convenient – particularly for commuters in the morning.

Not everyone wants valuable parcels and letters to be left with neighbours.  Royal mail needs to continue to provide a local collection point in the heart of the N8 area.

Haringey Liberal Democrats will stand up for local residents and fight this change.  We have launched an online petition to make Royal Mail understand the strength of feeling on this issue.

Cllr David Schmitz, Lib Dem councillor for Harringay ward, which will also be affected, said;

I can’t believe that residents of Stroud Green, Harringay and South Tottenham could be expected to travel to an industrial estate in Upper Holloway to collect undelivered parcels and registered post.   The proposed location is completely out of the way – and would require several buses or trains!  Collection points must be provided locally at convenient locations.

With internet shopping more and more people are getting deliveries through the post.  Royal Mail are shooting themselves in the foot if they make their services this inconvenient.

The Liberal Democrats will be fighting to keep these offices open.

The petitions can be found below, according to your postcode:

• Petition to save services at the Hornsey office serving people with an N8 postcode
• Petition to save services at the offices on Green Lanes serving people with an N4 and N15 postcode