CAMPAIGNERS are gearing up to save post offices in Camden and Barnet after a sackload of closures was confirmed by Royal Mail. As exclusively revealed by the Ham&High last week, branches in England s Lane, Highgate High Street and South End Green are set

CAMPAIGNERS are gearing up to save post offices in Camden and Barnet after a sackload of closures was confirmed by Royal Mail.

As exclusively revealed by the Ham&High last week, branches in England's Lane, Highgate High Street and South End Green are set to be axed.

And others doomed to closure include offices in Child's Hill, Alexandra Park Road, East Finchley and Crowndale Road, Camden Town.

Petitions are now being left in local shops and public meetings being called to help people battle the closures.

"This whole process of closure is taking the heart out of our communities.

"It will affect the area enormously if our post office is closed," said Pam Gilby, chairwoman of the South End Green Association.

Highgate Society spokesman Brendan Nolan said: "We are expecting an enormous response to our petition. The post office is a vital link for the community to the rest of the world."

Gene Adams, a member of the Belsize Residents Association, has campaigned for the closed Haverstock Hill Post Office to be reopened.

This is something Royal Mail has previously promised, but this week a spokesman said there are no plans for another branch on Haverstock Hill.

Rumours of plans to create a branch inside Hampstead Town Hall were also quashed.

Ms Adams said: "I am absolutely appalled. If the Royal Mail doesn't keep its promise to reopen the Haverstock Hill office it means the nearest office will be Hampstead or Finchley Road. It is completely disgraceful."

A report released this week by Royal Mail revealed the reasons why some offices are facing the axe.

It said: "The government has recognised that fewer people are using Post Office branches partly because traditional services are now available in other ways such as online or through banks.

"It has concluded that the overall size and shape of the network of Post Office branches needs to change."

Residents now have six weeks to make their case against the closures.

For more information or to respond go to www.post

office.co.uk.