Post Office boss Richard Barker promised local MP Lynne Featherstone more staff and refurbished Post Offices last Thursdaywhen she presented the results of a local waiting-time survey. Wood Green residents, who according to the survey have to queue for up to an hour to get their stamps, will soon see three more members of staff at the Wood Green Post Office.

Efforts will also be made to help elderly and disabled residents after the survey showed they found it hard to stand and queue. Post Office bosses gave cast-iron promises that as many chairs as possible would be put into the Crown Post Offices in Wood Green, Crouch End and Muswell Hill when they are refurbished in the summer.

Lynne Featherstone’s survey showed that residents have to queue for an average of 12 minutes at Post Offices in and around Hornsey and Wood Green. Residents using Crown Post Offices at Wood Green and Muswell Hill have experienced hour long queues and had average waiting times of 27 and 18 minutes respectively.

Lynne Featherstone commented:

“We already knew that waiting times at the Post Offices had risen as a result of last summer’s closures, but it was very useful to be able to present the Post Office manager with real numbers to show him just how bad it is. And it works, because he gave promises that will go some way towards making the situation a bit better.

“Queues at Wood Green are especially bad, and at least now they are getting some more staff.

“The other issue that was especially clear from the survey was that many elderly residents simply don’t go to the shops, as they can’t sit down and queue. I will certainly hold Mr Barker to his promise to deliver those chairs.

“I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to count their waiting times and send them on to me.

“But I’m not going to give up here- the fight for more local post offices continues, watch this space!”