Wokingham’s Liberal Democrats have questioned the Post Office’s proposal to move their main Wokingham branch from Broad Street to WH Smith at Market Place.

The plans were announced as part of nation-wide proposals last week and the borough’s opposition party has voiced their concern for future postal services.

Liberal Democrats councillor Clive Jones said: “Wokingham is a hub for deliveries to RG40 and RG41 postcodes, local post deliverers collect their deliveries from here.

“Will this still happen? I regularly use the Post Office and often see people coming in to collect parcels. I hope they won’t have to drive to Bracknell or Reading in the future to get them”

He added: “Post office employees have been told that they will have jobs with WH Smith on their current terms of employment.

“How long will this last for?

“It’s really important for Wokingham residents that the experience of these hard working people is retained by WH Smith for many years to come.”

A consultation is planned for later in the year before a formal decision is made.

The Wokingham store is one of forty across the country that is set to move into a WH Smith store.

The Lib Dems are planning a meeting with the regional manager of the Post Office to discuss the impact of the move.

Rachel Bishop-Firth, Lib Dem campaigner in Emmbrook ward said,

“We need to understand what is being proposed here.

“The jobs and livelihoods of a number of people are at risk.

“Wokingham’s residents want to know if the same services that are currently available in the existing Post Office, will also be available when the service is transferred to WH Smith.

“Every time I use the Post Office I find there is a queue of other people also using it so I can’t imagine that usage is a problem in Wokingham”.