Closed today as apparently they could not get the lock open. I hate to say it , but this would never have happened at the other place. Presumably the recently enhanced security measures have been too successful as not even the staff can get in any more.

I would not blame the staff for strike action in respect of their cramped and clearly unsatisfactory working conditions as I think its just not working out in there from anyones point of view. Every time I go in the staff are complaining or apologising to customers for various problems.

I also share the view about feeling very uneasy in there these days especially with my child in a pushchair. It is to do with the fact that there is no longer any natural daylight, the bookshelves are so high and packed so densely that there is no room to move around, nor can the post office bit be seen very easily from anywhere else in the building. There are also too many boxes and bits of packaging to trip over. I have also witnessed quite a few scenes from aggressive customers both in the PO area and the downstairs areas which I think would be less likely in a more calm and better lit environment. I do think the staff are very physically vulnerable due to the layout.

The whole building is an unsatisfactory compromise to the disadvantage to both businesses and to the community and I'm surprised either are still solvent.