LONG queues and waiting times at Trowbridge’s new Post Office are frustrating customers.

As Christmas approaches and post offices get busier, people in the town are growing concerned about being able to use the services at the counter in WHSmith Trowbridge. The facility was moved from Roundstone Street in the summer.

Many say they will be using other branches on the outskirts of town.

Anne Coates from Southwick has had trouble being served when trying to post cards to Australia.

She said: “When I first went in at around 11am the queue for the counter was halfway round the shop, when I again tried at 12.20pm, the queue did not seem to have moved at all.

“However, I queued up in the quite long queue which was moving interminably slowly, and got chatting to others in the queue behind me. All were incensed that at that time of day there was only one operative on the counter, leaving two tills empty.

“Surely the idea of moving the Post Office to the centre of town apart from saving money, was to enable more people to access the Post Office more easily and quickly. That is patently not happening. I waited in the queue for about 10 minutes without any significant movement, so I abandoned the town centre and drove to another Post Office counter on the outskirts of town, was served immediately and was in and out in less than five minutes flat.

“The queues can only get worse as Christmas approaches, and what happens in the summer when people want to purchase holiday money, or send for a passport? It is a disgrace that our county town is being downgraded apparently in a stealthy way.

“I for one will not be using the WHSmith outlet again, even though I pass directly by it weekly as I come into town. I shall be using the offices on the outskirts of the town who, when they see people waiting, immediately put someone else on the till.”

A Post Office spokesman said: “We understand how important Post Office services are to our customers and we are very sorry to learn of the recent issues experienced by a customer at Trowbridge Post Office. We’re sorry that our level of customer service has fallen short on this occasion and we apologise for the inconvenience caused. We will be speaking to our partners regarding the issues.”