Troubled Tufnell Park shopkeepers fear their businesses could collapse if a plan to shut the Tube station goes ahead.

Transport for London (TfL) is considering closing the station while the 40-year-old lifts are repaired – but hundreds of people from the area have signed a petition against the move.

Fears have been voiced the station could be closed for up to seven months from February, but while a spokesman for TfL said those kind of details were yet to be decided, he added keeping the station open while the lifts were fixed “may not be feasible”.

Hassan Volkna, manager of Sun Dry Cleaning on Fortress Road, said; “This would be very serious, we could go bust.

“We must hope they don’t do it – so much of our trade comes from people using the station and the rent here is so high.”

Tahir Alimi, who owns NK Convenience store on Tufnell Park Road, said: “Our business would suffer a lot. So much of our trade comes from the station. Whenever they close the station for a day, our takings drop by at least 40 per cent. I really hope they don’t close it.”

Patrick Fahy, landlord of the Boston Arms pub in Junction Road, said: “It would make a big difference for us. Lots of people use to tube to come to us for gigs and so on.

“I don’t understand why they can’t just do one lift at a time and keep it open. There have been a lot of complaints around the area, so maybe they will listen.

James Gall, promoter at the Dome on Dartmouth Park Hill, said: “If TfL had bothered to consult anyone they would understand what a huge deal this is to us, but they haven’t been very forthcoming.

“It’s not just the fact that business will either have to close up or put up with dramatically reduced revenue, but what about disabled people who have to travel much further to get to the Tube?

“The local businesses and residents are getting together to see how we can try and stop this.”

A TfL spokesman said: “The lifts at Tufnell Park station are nearly 40 years old and need to be replaced.

“We are assessing the best possible way to carry out the works quickly, efficiently and with the least amount of disruption.

“While it may not be feasible, the options do include keeping the station open with one lift in operation.

“When our plans are finalised we will of course give as much advance notice as possible to our customers and the local area. When the project is completed customers and staff will benefit from new, more reliable lifts.”