Disappointment over planned Telford bank closure
Bank customers will have to “travel further for a worse service” when Donnington’s Lloyds branch closes, according to one parish councillor.
Lloyds Bank have confirmed the Wrekin Drive branch will close next month and ruled out providing a “mobile branch” service, saying these are only for “isolated rural areas”.
Members of Donnington and Muxton Parish Council called the move “disappointing” and praised the friendliness and helpfulness of branch staff.
After the closure, on February 11, the nearest remaining branch will be four miles away in Telford Shopping Centre.
Councillor John Thompson said: “You go to the one in the town centre and you feel like a number. It’s not customer friendly there.”
The Donnington West ward member added: “Donnington Lloyds have always given excellent customer service. They are very friendly and I’ve seen a lot of people in there.
“After this, customers from Donnington will have to travel further to receive a less-good service.”
Mobile
At a previous meeting, the parish council agreed to write to the head office to express its disappointment and offer its own premises on Turreff Avenue as a possible venue for the company’s mobile branch service.
They received a reply last week from group complaints manager Tracey Greenough.
“We have made the difficult decision to close our Donnington Telford branch due to the changing ways customers are choosing to bank with us,” she wrote.
“We realise customers value branches, but the number of customers using this branch is 39 per cent lower than for a typical Lloyds Bank branch.
“We are grateful of your offer of a site to base a mobile branch and, although I appreciate you will be disappointed, we have no current plans to provide Donnington with a mobile branch.
“Our mobile branches are currently focused on serving relatively isolated rural communities, and we do not consider Donnington to fall into this category.”
Muxton ward councillor Lisa Dugmore said: “It’s very disappointing. I thought we had a chance of getting mobile branch service at least, but apparently not.”
The letter added that Lloyds have written to affected customers to advise them of alternative methods of banking, including the pay-in, withdrawal and balance check services at the Post Office.
An impact assessment for the closure is available through the “branch closures” section of LloydsBank.com
By Alex Moore, local democracy reporter
