THREE precious neighbourhood post offices are facing the sack as part of swinging cuts by Royal Mail

Katie Davies & Charlotte Newton

THREE precious neighbourhood post offices are facing the sack as part of swinging cuts by Royal Mail.

A secret list leaked to the Broadway this week reveal that the axe is hanging over main offices in Alexandra Park Road, East End Road and a post office counter in Highgate High Street.

And the cutbacks may not stop there - a total of 2,500 post offices are to go nationwide in the cull which will be publicly announced on Tuesday.

Loyal post office customers are devastated by the news. Angela Hills, 45, who lives in Vallance Road, Alexandra Palace, said: "I use the post office for sending parcels but I know there are a lot of pensioners who are dependent on it for their pension each week. They will have to travel to the post office in Muswell Hill which is always very crowded.

"I think it's wrong to close post offices because they are at the heart of our communities."

Highgate councillor Bob Hare said: "This is extremely disappointing to hear because the post office is central to the character and viability of the High Street in Highgate.

"It is a really useful post office, so I find it very disturbing. I will be campaigning vociferously against the proposed closure."

The Highgate Society has likewise vowed not to roll over for the closure of their High Street sub-office.

Chairman Gordon Forbes said: "We love our post office. We use it and it attracts people to Highgate so is vital for the High Street's commercial success. We've feared this and we would expect Highgate to rise up in one voice and oppose this decision in strong terms."

A spokeswoman for Royal Mail today refused to discuss the tip-off given to the Broadway.

"We won't be confirming any lists until next Tuesday when we go public," she said.

"Staff in local post offices have been part of the discussions for some time and the plans could undergo changes before then."

London will be the nineteenth of 41 local consultations throughout the UK and the deadline for responses is Wednesday April 2.

Also earmarked for the chop is the post office in South End Green, Hampstead, which residents including author Deborah Moggach and TV presenter Bill Oddie campaigned to save two years ago.

Ms Moggach said: "I am absolutely devastated and appalled this is happening after all the local support that was given to the campaign.

"Traders need this post office - local shops, which are clinging on by their fingertips, are going to go under if this happens. This will be the death knell for South End Green."

To find out more go to www.postoffice.co.uk/network change or call 08457 223344.

broadway@hamhigh.co.uk