Bank row as new home needed for Ludlow civic regalia
A civic service in Ludlow went ahead without historically important maces for the first time in 70 years after a dispute with the local NatWest bank.
Ludlow Town Council tried to retrieve the civic regalia from the bank’s secure vault last Sunday.
But a new manager at the bank told the council if it wanted to take the maces it would also have to take other civic silverware at the same time as the council did not have a bank account with NatWest and could no longer use the bank’s storage.
However, the council does not have secure storage of its own so was forced to leave the silverware with the bank until alternative arrangements can be made.
The council has stored its silverware at the bank for the last five years.
Mayor Tim Gill said: “We have had no issues up until now but there is a new bank manager who has suddenly said we can no longer keep it there. It is the only bank in Ludlow that has storage facilities so we can’t just take it out.
"One of the maces is of national importance and dates back to the 17th century. It is one of the finest examples of civic regalia.”
Deadline
Councillor Gill said the town council was originally given a deadline of two weeks to remove the items.
“We have always just had a system where we sign the silver out but they are now saying it has to be associated with a bank account,” he said.
“We’ve offered to pay for the storage or said we will set up an account, but they are saying we still can’t use the facilities. They don’t seem to realise how much this is going to antagonise the local community.”
It was the first service in at least 70 years that the mace were not present, according to Mr Gill.
A NatWest spokeswoman said: “As Ludlow Town Council is no longer our customer we are unable to continue to store their items.
"We recognise the initial two weeks notice given to remove the items was insufficient and are offering a further three months.”
