'Appalling': Barclays closing four Shropshire banks
Barclays is closing four of its branches in Shropshire because of a fall in the number of customers using them.
The branches are in Wem, Newport, Church Stretton and Much Wenlock.
The closure of the Much Wenlock branch will leave the town without a bank – forcing customers to travel to Madeley, Bridgnorth or Telford, use online banking or use the local Post Office's banking service.
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.
South Shropshire MP Philip Dunne, whose constituency covers Church Stretton and Much Wenlock, today pledged to challenge the bank over its decision to close the branches.
Mr Dunne said he would work with local representatives to put forward the case for keeping branches open for businesses and vulnerable customers.
The Church Stretton branch will close from September 7, the Newport branch on September 14 and Much Wenlock will shut its doors for the final time on October 4.
The closures mean the nearest branches will be at Barclays Shrewsbury and Ludlow for Church Stretton customers and Madeley and Bridgnorth for those who live and work in Much Wenlock.
Mr Dunne said: “I am appalled by this decision by Barclays to remove two branches from South Shropshire, especially in Much Wenlock where it is the last bank branch in town.
"We all recognise that mobile banking has become more prevalent. But South Shropshire is home to many elderly and vulnerable people, for whom online banking is simply not a credible option. Branch services are also important to both those banking for businesses or charities, and I will be stressing this to Barclays in asking them to review their decision.”
Ramona Enfield, Barclays Community Banking Director for the area, said: "The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices.
"At the Much Wenlock branch, customer usage has continued to decline – 20 per cent in the last 24 months, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close it. In Church Stretton, customer usage fell by 28 per cent in the last 24 months, in Wem by 10 per cent and in Newport by 16 per cent."
Church Stretton still has one bank: TSB on the High Street and there are a number of banks in Newport.
