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‘It’s a done deal.’
That was the view of angry residents coming out of a consultation event into the future of Wokingham’s Post Office.
Last autumn, the Post Office announced plans to shut the historic Broad Street branch in favour of relocating as a kiosk in the Market Place WHSmith.
On Monday, people were turned away from Wokingham Methodist Church in Rose Street as they came in their droves to let Post Office bosses know how unhappy they were at the plans.
There were just 30 seats available at any one time and plenty of people were standing around waiting for their opportunity to sit down. There were no information boards or staff on hand to attend to those waiting.
But for those who did manage to get a seat at one of just three tables, rather than being an opportunity to let the Post Office know just why more than 5,500 Wokingham people had signed a petition campaigning against the Broad Street closures, they learnt that the kiosk will open in what is currently the books section of WHSmith.
And a letter given to people who did get in also warned that once the Broad Street Post Office shuts parcel collections could take place in another site and not Wokingham town centre. The letter read, “the collection of undelivered items of mail will not transfer … it will be retained at the adjacent sorting office or at an alternative location nearby”.
The letter also notes that WHSmith – which last year was rated by readers of Which? Magazine as the UK’s worst high street retailer for its customer service and store standards – “have satisfied us that they will be able to successfully run the branch in Wokingham by showing they can deliver excellent standards of customer service”.
Under the proposals the kiosk will be an open plan area at the rear of the store with three counters. A booth will offer travel money and there will be two self-service machines. To aid buggies and wheelchair users, automatic doors would be installed to the Market Place entrance.
The letter also admits that the Post Office doesn’t want to change its mind about closing the historic Broad Street branch. “This is a commercial decision … we are not seeking feedback on this aspect of the change” the letter notes.
One change as a result of the closure will be the WHSmith kiosk opening until 5.30pm on Saturdays and from 10am to 2pm on Sundays.
Speaking to people who came out from the Rose Street church, it was clear that residents were not convinced that their voices had been heard by Post Office staff.
One, who didn’t wish to be named, said: “It wasn’t a consultation, it was him talking to us. They didn’t ask us for our views.”
Another shared with The Wokingham Paper their frustrations over the plan: “It’s not going to get changed, it’s a foregone conclusion”.
Min and Steve Cutting said: “It’s a done deal. Just look at the timeline: the consultation finishes on February 27 and [the kiosk] opens in June. They’ve got to change the whole layout of WHSmith and install an automatic door.
“You have to order all that stuff … it’s just going to go through.”
And Mr Cutting was convinced that the decision meant the end of Royal Mail using the Broad Street site as a sorting office.
“Royal Mail will sell the building, they’ll have to,” he said. “The new CEO has to make an impact by short-term asset stripping. Parcels will go to Molly Millars Lane once they’ve shut it.”
Frank Burwood wondered what would happen to the Broad Street building.
“Wokingham used to be known for its pubs, now it’s coffee shops,” he said.
“We did let them know we didn’t want them to move, but unfortunately we were talking with a woman from WHSmith,” Min Cutting added.
Visitors to the consultation were greeted by campaigners from Wokingham’s Labour Party, who were adding signatures to their petition and waving placards and banners.
Cllr Andy Croy, who leads the Labour group on Wokingham Borough Council, said: “People have been queueing to get in.
“Some people have had to go away to come back later: they’ve put money on a parking meter and had to leave the consultation.
“The Post Office have made it as difficult as possible [for voices to be heard], compounded by not letting everyone come in.”
And a similar situation is taking place in Reading, where Reading East MP – whose constituency includes parts of Woodley and Earley – is trying to save its crown Post Office.
He said in Parliament last week: “[We] need to look holistically at the whole parade of shops, the needs of vulnerable local people, particularly the elderly, and the needs of local small businesses.”
As part of this, he advocated an area-based approach that would mean that “different needs are taken into account as part of banking or Post Office regulation”.
A Post Office spokesperson said: “Customers visiting yesterday’s customer forum on the proposed changes to Wokingham Post Office may have experienced a busy period when the forum first began, and we’re sorry for any inconvenience this might have caused.
“To avoid being left waiting, customers were offered consultation reading materials and reminded that the forum would be ongoing until 7.30pm and they were welcome to return at a later time should they wish to do so.
“It is natural that people will have concerns about the proposed changes to Wokingham Post Office branch. That’s why we are seeking views from you, the local Wokingham community, to better understand areas such as accessibility, both inside and outside the branch, or wider local issues which should be taken into account.
“All of the feedback we collect will be carefully considered and will absolutely shape our final decision when it comes to the plans to move the branch. The customer forum, which is one element of the consultation, was advertised via posters and leaflets in the branch.
“It is true that we are not consulting on principle of franchising a branch, as this is a commercial decision – and we believe it is the right one in order to sustain Post Office services in communities for the long term; however, that does not mean that any final decisions have been made.”
