169 London post offices may close

The Post Office say 90% of Londoners will be unaffected

A fifth of post offices in London are facing closure as part of a wider move to shut 2,500 branches nationwide.

The Post Office has begun a six-week consultation on plans to close 169 of the capital's 850 post offices.

It said about 90% of Londoners would see no change to their nearest branch under the proposals.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone said he might take legal action by way of a judicial review to try to extend the consultation period to 12 weeks.

'Best prospect'

He said: "London's post offices provide vital support for those who are most in need, particularly the elderly, disabled and those with young children.

"For many Londoners who do not have access to a bank account, the post office is an amenity they cannot do without.

"I believe we need more, not fewer, post offices in London."

Anita Turner, the Post Office's network development manager for London, said its aim was to continue to provide essential services and support retail businesses and the local economy in as many communities as possible, subject to the minimum access criteria set by the government.

It is important that this happens in a way that minimises customer inconvenience and confusion Roger Darlington, chairman of Postwatch Greater London

"We believe these proposals offer the best prospect for a sustainable way forward for Post Office services in London," she said.

The Post Office is now halfway through a series of 42 public consultations over the 2,500 national closures which should be completed by the end of the year.

But consumer group Postwatch Greater London urged customers to study the closure plans and voice their views.

Roger Darlington, chairman of the group, said: "Postwatch accepts the rationale for change.

Labour are putting vast swathes of the London Post Office network under threat and putting people's livelihoods on the line Bob Neill, shadow minister for London

"It is important that this happens in a way that minimises customer inconvenience and confusion."

The Conservatives have accused the government of "fiddling" the consultation by not publishing the results until after Assembly and Mayoral elections in May.

Bob Neill, shadow minister for London, said: "Labour are putting vast swathes of the London Post Office network under threat and putting people's livelihoods on the line - yet they will not reveal the final extent of Post Office cuts until after London's May elections."

Mobile post offices

Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Brian Paddick condemned the plans, saying: "People rely on their local services and to suggest closing a fifth of all post offices in London shows a complete disregard for the needs of the local population."

Boris Johnson, the Conservatives' mayoral candidate, called for Londoners to get involved in the consultation, saying they would be furious to find out their local post office was under threat.

Simon Briault, of the Federation for Small Businesses, said the majority of small businesses relied on their local post office for sending and receiving post daily.

He urged the Post Office to look at flexible ways such as mobile post offices and part-time opening, to ensure the closure programme does not destroy the whole postal system.

A separate consultation began last month looking at the future of post offices in Essex Road and Ludgate Circus.