East Finchley people now have four more weeks to have their say on plans to relocate the area's post office.

The Post Office has extended its consultation on the plans to move its East Finchley branch in Viceroy Parade to Universal Office Equipment (UOE) in High Road.

It had previously failed to mention that access to the Post Office would be via three steps with a handrail and a platform lift inside the UOE store.

The detail has been added to the new consultation, which will now conclude on March 11.

The company has said the branch’s opening hours would be extended by 14 and a half hours every week, if the plans are successful.

Roger Gale, Crown network general manager, said: “We are committed to keeping a Post Office branch in East Finchley and to maintaining the same levels of service for our customers.

"We believe the best way for us to do this is to change the way we operate it, so if the move goes ahead it will be run by Universal Office Equipment (UK) Ltd rather than by us directly.”

But the Communications Workers’ Union (CWU) has said the move would result in the loss of trained Post Office staff, and services would suffer.

Huw Davies, a CWU representative, said: “We have three main concerns about the Post Office’s proposals including the lack of adequate facilities provided on relocation to new premises, a detrimental impact on the service provided to the public, and no guarantee of long-term service provision by the franchisee.

“The Post Office should listen to the voice of the customer and their elected local representatives.”

The CWU has collected more than 1,350 signatures from residents who are opposed to the relocation.

Comments on the consultation can be sent to comments@postoffice.co.uk, or by calling 08457 22 33 44 by March 11.