Anger as Lloyds Bank to close its Shifnal branch

Councillors have slammed the move as "wrong", saying Shifnal is a growing town, with a number of new housing developments under construction, which will need its banks in future.

In 2012, Shifnal lost its branch of the Nationwide Building Society as the company closed a number of branches that were no longer viable.

The town will now be left with only a branch of Barclays on Market Square.

Lloyds said that, where possible, it would move as many staff as it could to other branches, but said there may be some voluntary redundancies, although it could not confirm numbers until meetings have been held with workers.

It said the number of customers using the branch has gone down by 32 per cent each year.

Claire Horton, a spokeswoman for Lloyds Bank, said: "We have made the difficult decision to close the Shifnal branch on October 13.

"This branch has been identified for closure because of the changing way customers choose to bank with us, which has resulted in customers using it less often.

"The majority of customers also now regularly use alternative branches or other ways to bank, such as online and telephone banking.

"We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and have informed customers of the closest alternative branch."

Shropshire Councillor Kevin Turley, of Shifnal North ward, said that the town was growing and would desperately need services like its banks in future.

About 1,600 new homes are being built in Shifnal before 2026.

He said: "It is wrong. Personally I moved my banking from Barclays in Telford to Lloyds because I don't like the way things are going where everything is automated.

"I prefer having the customer service advisors and speaking to someone at the counter.

"The older generation thrive on that, they will need face to face contact to be able to get started.

"It is just wrong with the growth rate of Shifnal. With the number of new housing developments, if banks have a good presence in the town, think how many mortgages they could get.

"It shows a lack of common sense on the part of the banks, they should look what they have got and where things are growing.

"Barclays will be rubbing its hands together because everyone will be transferring to them as there is nowhere else to go.

"It is lacking in customer service and foresight to close a branch in a community that is growing at such a rate."

Customers who hold accounts at the Shifnal branch will have their accounts moved to the branch at Telford Shopping Centre.