As door-to-door mail delivery is phased out, hundreds of London homeowners will find a community mailbox installed next to their homes.
Now CTV News has learned Canada Post and city hall have a list of more than 300 locations being considered in London, but have so far kept homeowners in the dark.
About half of London's older neighbourhoods will make the switch to community mailboxes this year, which critics say increase traffic, block sight lines and lower property values.
The appearance of one new box on Tozer Ave. came as a surprise to neighbour Joanne Armstrong.
"[I] did not know it was coming. Actually, a few neighbours and I walked down there and had a look at it and thought, 'Will we be getting our mail here?' Haven't heard anything."
So while hundreds of homeowners who will have a community box installed near their properties are still in the dark, it was revealed to the Civic Works Committee that city hall has already been given a list of locations by Canada Post.
Doug MacRae, city engineer, says "They have already submitted to us, city staff, over 300 locations."
In an email to CTV News, the city clerk's office explained, "Canada Post has requested that we not disclose the information at this time."
When contacted about why it's keeping a lid on the locations - Canada Post explained the policy is to first knock on the doors of nearby homeowners, but couldn't say when that will happen.
Councillor Michael Van Holst says withholding the information fits into a pattern of poor public consultation by Canada Post.
"If we want a public engagement process, it doesn't seem like there is much actual public engagement."
And according to the installation scheduled provided to city staff, any time for public consultation is growing short.
"They plan to start installing mailboxes around June and start delivering mail through them in September," MacRae says.
