Switch banks call over HSBC Leintwardine closure

Protesters in a village on the south Shropshire border are calling on people to switch their accounts after learning their only bank is be axed.

Residents in Leintwardine are urging account holders to write to HSBC threatening to take their business elsewhere after hearing the branch is to close in mid September.

The Rev Mike Catling said campaigners were handing out leaflets at the village's weekend Aqua Vitae-themed fete.

He said: "We had a mounted banner which drew attention to the issue. I gave out leaflets both to individuals and stallholders."

He said there was quite a lot of empathy and general support.

"The feeling was that this should not be happening. There is a sense of powerlessness around in rural communities at the moment and the closure of the bank here is another example of that," he added.

Mr Catling said villagers planned to have another public meeting next week.

He added: "The bank is now saying it may put the ATM machine somewhere else and no final decision has been made.

"We really want to put the pressure on them to make a positive decision about that even if we were to lose the bank, if we can keep a cashpoint and salvage that it would be something."`

Mark Hemingway for HSBC said it had been a tough decision to close the branch.

He said: "The branch is due to close in Mid September.

"It is currently only open just over four hours a week on Tuesday lunchtimes."

He added that the customers using the branch had declined in recent years.

Staff serve on average around six customers a day.