After a series of shop closures we posed a simple question posted on several Facebook pages and groups on 24 January sparking one of the most detailed public discussions about the future of Wokingham town centre in recent memory.
The My Wokingham post asked:
“Be honest — is the high street struggling because of landlords and costs, or because we’ve all changed how we shop?
Would free parking, discount days or more events make a difference in Wokingham?
What would get you back into town more often?”
What followed was not a handful of off-the-cuff replies, but hundreds of comments from real people, most using their own names, many identifying themselves as local residents, workers, commuters and small business owners.
Some said they had lived in Wokingham all their lives. Others said they had already changed their habits — or even decided to move away. Taken together, the comments form a snapshot of how the town centre is now perceived by the people who once used it most.
Real people, real experiences
The responses were not part of a formal consultation or survey. They were unsolicited, unfiltered and often emotional, posted publicly by people who live in Wokingham and surrounding areas.
Yet despite the variety of voices, the same themes appeared again and again — often expressed in almost identical language.
One resident wrote:
“There is no way I’m going north of the level crossing. There is no point.”
Another said:
“It’s far quicker to get to Bracknell or Camberley now.”
And another summed up a widely shared feeling:
“I don’t mind paying for parking at all, if there’s actually something worth going in for.”
Across hundreds of comments, the message was clear: this is not about one single issue. It is about how multiple pressures — access, shop mix, costs and changing habits — are reinforcing each other.
“We’ve stopped popping in”: access and roadworks dominate
The most frequently mentioned issue was not online shopping, and not even parking costs.
It was getting into town at all.
Residents repeatedly said that roadworks, closures and diversions have turned what used to be a quick visit into a stressful, time-consuming journey — particularly for people travelling in from Finchampstead, Arborfield, Crowthorne and surrounding villages.
“There is no way I’m going north of the level crossing. There is no point.”
“It takes me 40 minutes to get in from Eversley and nearly an hour to get back.”
“I’ve given up attempting to shop in Wokingham.”
Several people said they now default to Bracknell, Reading or Camberley because access is easier and more predictable.
Workers and business owners also reported a noticeable drop in footfall during the disruption.
“Our work has been considerably quieter since these works have taken place.”
Anger was frequently directed at Wokingham Borough Council, with residents blaming long-term planning decisions and years of disruption for changing how — and whether — people visit the town centre.
Parking: “It’s not the price, it’s the value”
Parking remains one of the most contentious issues, but the comments reveal a more nuanced view than simply “make it free”.
Many residents said they are prepared to pay — but only if the town offers enough to justify the trip.
“I don’t mind paying for parking at all, if there’s actually something worth going in for.”
Others said paying to park in Wokingham feels poor value compared to other towns.
“If I’m going to pay for parking I might as well go to Bracknell or Reading and have more choice.”
What came through strongly was frustration with short stays. People said popping in for one or two shops can feel risky or expensive.
Suggested solutions were often specific and practical:
- free or cheaper 30-minute parking
- a trial free-parking day during quieter periods
- free or reduced parking during events
- free parking after a certain time
“Coffee shops, barbers and charity shops”: frustration over the shop mix
Perhaps the most repeated phrase — in dozens of variations — was that Wokingham has become dominated by coffee shops, barbers, nail bars and charity shops.
“There’s not much in Wokingham now… it just feels like charity shops and coffee shops.”
“It’s become a place to eat and drink. Shopping is limited.”
Residents were not rejecting cafés or independent businesses. Many said they actively support them. But they argued the balance has tipped too far away from everyday, practical retail.
The loss of anchor stores, particularly Marks & Spencer, was mentioned repeatedly.
“The biggest loss was M&S.”
“M&S was perfect for everyday things — once that went, there was less reason to go.”
Younger adults and families were frequently mentioned as being poorly served, with calls for:
- affordable clothing shops
- better options for teenagers and young adults
- stores selling everyday items rather than specialist or luxury goods
“There’s nowhere to grab clothes for kids or something last-minute anymore.”
Regeneration: high expectations, lingering disappointment
Many comments returned to the town’s regeneration — not in opposition to change, but in disappointment at the outcome.
Residents described years of disruption followed by a result they feel did not deliver a vibrant retail destination.
“The regeneration went on for ages and the only difference after was a new pavement and lots of new coffee shops.”
Some criticised the layout of newer areas, saying they feel disconnected from the rest of the town centre and do not naturally encourage people to walk between shops.
“The new shops are so disconnected from the rest of town I’m never really walking past them.”
Several compared Wokingham unfavourably with The Lexicon, saying Bracknell now offers clearer access, easier parking and a more complete retail experience.
“Even if people come back, can shops survive?”
Beyond customer behaviour, many commenters questioned whether traditional retail can survive under current costs.
High rents, business rates, staffing costs, energy bills and additional charges were repeatedly cited.
“High rates kill businesses — it’s not rocket science.”
One local business owner described the impact of road closures and parking issues on trade, saying turnover dropped during the disruption and that additional costs have made operating harder.
“Road closures have affected my business… we are down during the period the works have been in place.”
Several residents suggested that lower rates or incentives — even temporarily — would be better than empty units.
“Better having tenants than none at all.”
Online shopping: acknowledged, but not accepted as the whole answer
Many people openly admitted they now shop online most or all of the time.
“Shop totally online — town doesn’t cater for my needs.”
Others pointed out the reality of modern retail: people browse in store, then buy online cheaper with delivery.
But the dominant mood was not resignation. Instead, residents argued that online shopping alone does not explain Wokingham’s decline — it has simply magnified existing weaknesses.
“People cut out the driving hassle and parking costs and go online.”
What residents say would bring them back
Across hundreds of comments, five recurring ideas stood out:
- Make the town easier to access
- Restore practical, everyday retail
- Introduce smarter, fairer parking options
- Create more reasons to visit (events, markets, seasonal attractions)
- Make it viable for businesses to trade
A town that’s changed — but not written off
The overall sentiment is not that Wokingham is beyond saving, but that it has changed from a place people visited to shop into a place they mainly visit to eat, drink or attend appointments.
“It’s become a place to eat and drink. Shopping is limited.”
For many residents, the frustration lies in the belief that Wokingham still has the population, affluence and character to support a stronger town centre — but only if access, affordability and purpose are addressed together.
Because as one commenter put it plainly:
“If it’s hard to get there, costs money to park, and there’s nothing you need once you arrive — why would you go?”
A much improved bus service around wokingham and also a bus service on the new estate,s and it would encourage people of wokingham to also get the bus and won’t need to drive into wokingham and therefore less congestion in wokingham Town centre and for the elderly and disabled and non drivers to able to get into town to shop ,catchup with friends and family it also stops people feeling isolated and not having to pay taxi,s that a lot of people don’t have money for. Wokingham needs to regenerate again and start encouraging people of wokingham to come into town with new shop,s and businesses to also help our economy in wokingham
Its a real shame as so any businesses are closing up. Rates and rents continue to climb , parking is expensive and charged even in the evenings so it’s little wonder shops are going. I can’t really see how they remedy this as the country feels the squeeze from a completely delusional PM and Chancellor that are putting pressure on households financially there will be more pain ahead and for some time.
Goes to show how greedy WBC are. They build a “bypass” so they can build 1800 homes….where all the residents wont go to Wokingham for shopping. Camberley and Bracknell are far better. Bracknell has more and better shops. WBC would have been better to make it cheaper to park, bring the rental rates down instead off up. As far as the roadworks are concerned, whoever the numpties that decided to have 3 major roadworks going , all at the same time beggars belief and they should seek other employment. You now see more traffic wardens than police. What a mess!
Nothing unusual.
Nothing Mentioned about parking wardens, 15 of them we have in this town. I think that’s a bit extreme. Don’t you. They need to go if you get rid of them? Then I think we have a town, they lingering on corners waiting to jump on cars they get paid £3 pound for every ticket they write. This isn’t on
Business close because we fail them, we shop online, recently I was watching a series on Amazon Prime, the advertising breaks have QR codes to purchase the items on Amazon – this is disgraceful and anticompetitive – how can the high street fight against this – but what is more disgusting is the way local politicians seem to attack our town and tell people it is impossible to get around – the southern distribution road has been on the drawing boards for years designed and signed off by the Conservatives and they are now bitching about the chaos of their design.
Support Wokingham and our shops.
As for parking – the council is the lowest funded council in the UK and will lose a further £47 million in the coming years – a proposal to give one hours free parking at a cost of half a million which would cost tax payers and might increase window shopping – but definitely wouldn’t increase any income for the council but might increase the income for the government – so can anyone explain the logic in this and what we should cut?
Marks and spencer have been here before and it did not work for them, they will be selling the same as waitrose etc maybe a smaller clothing retailer or do what other towns with larger shops , which is to partition them so two smaller shops in one for half the rent
i have a shop in the town and if i’m honest i cannot see anything but having to close the doors very soon.We need to create an incentive to draw people in to the town, like a little bit of free parking,we cant get the big name shops to come because of poor footfall, so the free parking is all that is left to offer,it might help or it might not but we cannot ignore what every shop is telling the council,it is so sad that the people who control the town pretend everything is ok