Shropshire Star

Barclays bank closures spark protests from customers and councillors

Councillors have voiced their disappointment over the announcement that four branches of Barclays will be closing in Shropshire.

Published
Unhappy customers Vanessa Laming, Sue Cullin, Andrea Ash and Stuart Ash at Barclays Bank on High Street, Much Wenlock , which is due to close

Branches in Wem, Newport, Church Stretton and Much Wenlock are to close later this year, with Barclays blaming a fall in the number of customers using them.

Shropshire Councillor David Turner, who represents Much Wenlock, says it will leave the town without a bank.

Customers will be forced to travel to Madeley, Bridgnorth or Telford, use online banking or use the local Post Office’s banking service.

Councillor Turner said: "I'm disappointed to learn that Barclays in Much Wenlock High Street is scheduled to close on October 4.

"This is the last bank in town and customers will receive a letter advising how they can continue to access banking services.

"Suffice to say that the nearest physical branches are in Bridgnorth and Madeley.

"That's a bit of a jaunt and, if you have no car, quite an undertaking by public transport."

He said he would be writing to Much Wenlock Town Council to encourage councillors to lobby Barclays.

Vanessa Laming runs Mrs P’s newsagent and sweet shop in Much Wenlock High Street, opposite the bank.

The 60-year-old, who runs her shop with husband Paul, 63, said: “It’s okay for people who have transport and can travel elsewhere but I would say 50 per cent of people in Much Wenlock are older people.

“Closing it will kill the town. If people have to go elsewhere to get to a bank they will do their shopping elsewhere too.”

Andrea Ash, who runs Wenlock Upholstery with her husband Stuart, 41, uses the bank regularly for their business.

The 42-year-old, who also lives in Much Wenlock, said: “Every time we come down here it’s busy, especially on a Thursday.

“People can’t come on Wednesday or Friday as it’s closed so it gets busy on days when it is open.

“There are a lot of elderly people who use it. The cash machine will go too and some of the shops just take cash. That’s going to have a knock-on effect with everyone else.”

Another Barclays customer, Sue Cullin, 70, of Much Wenlock, said: “It’s going to be a nuisance.

“It’s a huge step backwards. A lot of elderly people can’t do online banking.”

The Newport branch will also close on September 14.

The town has already lost its NatWest bank.

Mayor of Newport, Councillor Peter Scott, said: "I am very disappointed in Barclays decision to close the Newport branch. Many residents rely on it.

"As Mayor of Newport I never want to see our town lose any of its major businesses and will be working in my borough council capacity to see what might be done.

"I suppose the decision is influenced by the ease of technology and online banking but it will inconvenience many.

"The NatWest closure was the first indication of us losing these services and I expect Barclays will say a lot of platitudes but will still close it down.

"It’s a sad day for our town. I hope a replacement business will come along soon as the branch is in a prominent part of town."

Wem will also be left without a bank when it closes on October 12.

The branch of NatWest closed in 2016.

Customers will now have to use the branches in Whitchurch and Shrewsbury, although they can access banking services at the Post Office on Wem High Street.

The Church Stretton branch will close from September 7.

Barclays say customers usage at the branches earmarked for closure has declined and the way customers undertake their banking is changing.

Shifnal lost its last bank last year when Barclays closed its branch in the town.