Sad farewell as bank closes

Staff and customers bade a fond farewell to a Telford bank branch after it closed for the final time due to safety concerns.

Lloyds TSB shut its branch in High Street, Dawley, yesterday afternoon after saying it had become "difficult to guarantee the safety of staff and customers", following a raid in September.

More than 40 customers flooded into the bank in the last half an hour of business to use it for the last time.

The final customers through the door were Mark Keen and Deborah Hoof of Dawley, who deposited money into their account with their children Elizabeth, four, and three-year-old Jack.

Mr Keen said he was upset by the closure.

"It is sad it's going because we use the bank on a regular basis," he said.

"It means a long trip now into town or to Madeley to get a similar service. We are upset."

Ken Thomas, of Little Dawley, said he feared he town could now resemble a ghost town.

"I always use this wonderful bank," he said. "I travel all over the country, but I always come back to this bank, the one I trust. I fear the demise will leave Dawley more resembling a ghost town."

Lloyds TSB said on Tuesday a new branch could open once regeneration plans for the town come to fruition.

Jackie Sayor, a teacher at Southall School in Dawley, said: "The school uses this branch to bank and I think I can speak for us all by saying we are very sad to see it close. To be honest, I think it is dreadful."

Bank officials took the decision to close the branch after carrying out a security review which showed there was "limited scope" to upgrade the branch. The review came after masked robbers smashed a window and grabbed bags and boxes of cash from staff at the bank in September.

But the banking giant has pledged to look at re-opening in the area in the future.

Peter Jordan, local director for Lloyds TSB, said: "We have taken on board the comments made by local people and Telford & Wrekin Council and have sought to address these as far as possible.

"We have also promised that in future we will look at the possibility of returning to Dawley as the town's regeneration moves ahead.

"Our customers can continue to receive service through alternatives including banking services available through the local post office or our 24-hour UK based telephone advice service."

By Andrew Morris