Big bank queue in Sheffield due to social distancing

Some 20 people formed a line past the bank’s premises and down Pinstone Street on Monday.

Staff walked along to keep them informed about progress and the reason for the delay, but some were clearly cross. A man with reduced mobility was allowed to sit on a nearby bench without losing his place.

Barclays had pinned a note on a window asking customers not to queue beyond its building. But people were stood in front of Leeds Building Society, which was open, and Blend Kitchen.

A Barclays spokeswoman said it was because the branch could only admit a ‘limited number’ of customers at one time.

She added: “During the pandemic our priority has been to support the health and safety of our colleagues and to help our customers in the best way possible whilst maintaining a branch presence and we are sorry for the delays customers are experiencing at our Sheffield branch.

“The Sheffield branch can only admit a limited number of customers at any one time in order to be compliant with social distancing measures and Monday is typically our busiest day of the week.

'Our colleagues have been working hard to reduce the queues and if customers are able to avoid visiting the branch just prior to closing time this would help ease waiting times.

“Since the restrictions on movement have been in place we have been operating on reduced hours across all our branches and we have been encouraging customers to do their banking online or over the telephone and only visit the branch where absolutely necessary.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Visit https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you.

Nancy Fielder, editor.