Wokingham - Parcel collection moves inside post office today

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Parcel collection chaos should be calmed tomorrow when the service moves inside the town centre post office.

Slow-moving queues stretched along Broad Street after Royal Mail delivery office opening hours were slashed following an incident where a woman was clipped by a post van.

Wokingham parcel collection office queues out on the pavement

But from tomorrow the post office in Broad Street will have a parcel collection point and will extend its opening hours on Monday ahead of the Christmas rush.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “Royal Mail apologises to customers for reducing opening hours for health and safety reasons.

“When a customer has an item that can’t be delivered there will be a separate area to collect the items inside Wokingham post office.

“We would like to thank our customers for their patience.”

Becky Galbraith, 35, who queued for an hour in the rain to collect a parcel, said: “It’ll be contingent on them putting more staff on.

“Logistically it’s going to be a challenge to pull off.

“It’s a much better idea than making everyone wait outside. You might be drier, but you’ll still be queueing.”

Collection times were reduced to 10am to 12.30pm as staff manned the gate to supervise people entering the delivery yard.

Parcels can now be collected from 9am to 5.30pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm on Tuesday, and 9am to 12.30pm on Saturday.

Mrs Galbraith of Park Road said: “Hopefully the extended hours will alleviate some of the problem.

“People that are working will have to be clever to avoid peak times.”

Christine Kendell, 58, of Howard Road, who was frustrated with the wait when she collected a parcel two weeks ago, said: “I think this is really good news.

“I passed the post office this morning before 10 and there were already people queueing up. They’ve got wise to it.”

From Monday the post office will open from 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday in the run-up to Christmas.