THE CLOSURE of a bank has been blamed for longer queues at Wokingham’s main Post Office.
Barclays in Market Place closed its doors on Friday, August 18, and since then customers looking for stamps have been stamping their feet in frustration.
It has been reported that queues to the kiosk in WHSmith have, on occasion, been out of the door, with irate queuers saying only one counter has been opened.
Post Office services at the branch include Parcelforce, licence applications, foreign currency services, bill payments and vehicle tax. For many people they must use the Wokingham town centre branch for these facilities, which means long queues.
Online reviews complain about a lack of staff on duty.
While the Post Office says there is an increase in customers because of Barclays shutting up shop, the negative feedback predates the closures.
One wrote: “Considering the volume of footfall, you’d have thought the post office would put a rocket up them to provide a fast effective service – obviously not.”
Another noted: “(There were) 15 people in the queue, one employee working in travel money counter, both counters in Post Office closed. How is this possible? Is anyone managing this Post Office?”
A third wrote: “Understaffed and staff slowly helps people on one queue and then steps out constantly to fix the self-service machines. Basically, the queue is a joke.”
The Post Office was squashed into the former bookshop area of WHSmith when the company shut the Crown Post Office in Broad Street in 2019, despite a groundswell of opposition. At the time, customers said the kiosk would see large queues.
A Post Office spokesperson said: “Wokingham Post Office is fully staffed. However, there has been a recent increase in the number of banking customers visiting the Post Office since Barclays closed its branch in the town. We are currently reviewing staffing levels to support this.
“In addition, there has been a temporary increase in customers from Bracknell Post Office due to technical issues with a tablet used for online passport and driving licence applications. We are working hard to resolve this matter as soon as possible.”
Barclays is not the first bank to close in Wokingham town centre this year. NatWest shut its doors in February.
Barclays has launched a community hub in The Bradbury Centre in Rose Street from Tuesdays to Fridays, between 9.30am and 12.30pm and 1pm to 3.30pm. There are no counter or cash services at this venue.