
Winchester Post Office continues to face staffing issues amid reduced hours.
But managers say new staff have been hired and normal hours should be resumed on June 26.
As previously reported, the Post Office, in WHSmith on the High Street, is now the sole post office in the city centre after the closure of the Upper High Street PO in 2021.
There has been ongoing criticism at the long wait times at the Post Office, with customers often having to wait over half an hour.
Following criticism of its revised opening hours, brought in earlier this year, the Post Office is still operating under reduced hours from Monday to Friday.
Low staffing numbers alongside high demand have caused customers to experience delays with queues frequently stretching out of the PO and into WHSmith.
Services such as Passport and Driving Licence applications have been affected as a result causing problems for customers.
A PO spokesperson told the Chronicle continued staffing issues are to blame.
“There have been ongoing staffing issues at Winchester Post Office and our partner, that operates this branch, adjusted the opening hours to Monday to Friday: 10am until 4pm and Saturday: 9am – 1 pm in the short term.
“We are pleased to announce that two counter clerks have recently been appointed to support the branch. We therefore anticipate that the branch will return to normal trading hours from Monday 26 June.”
A Post Office spokesperson had previously provided the Chronicle a statement in March asking for customers to be patient.
“Winchester Post Office has recently been temporarily closed on Saturday afternoon and Sunday due to ongoing staffing issues. WHSmith, who operates the branch, has been working hard to recruit additional staff and we’re pleased to share that vacancies have been filled and new staff are currently undergoing training.”
“We would ask customers to continue to be patient whilst the staff continue to work through this exceptional period. The opening hours in branch have recently been adjusted to Monday to Friday: 10mam until 4pm and Saturday: 9am – 1 pm in the short term and we hope to return to normal trading hours soon.