Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies has requested an urgent meeting with Barclays Bank following its announcement this morning that it will be closing its branch in Prestatyn.
The news comes hot on the heels of last week’s announcement from HSBC that it too will be vacating the town later this year. In the Autumn, TSB announced they would be closing their Prestatyn branch this March.
With Barclays planning to shut its doors in May and HSBC in July, the town will be left without a single bank, and just one Building Society, the Principality, on Prestatyn High Street.
Yesterday, James met with HSBC to discuss their closure and the possibility of them overturning their decision, but was told the branch will definitely be closing.
Following today’s news, he has written to them again to emphasise that their departure in the summer will now leave residents without access to any bank in the town.
James said:
“Today’s news is a huge blow for Prestatyn, particularly coming one week after HSBC’s announced closure and I have called for an urgent meeting with Barclays to discuss their decision and to emphasise the current situation in the town.
“Whilst I appreciate that in recent years there has been a surge in the use of online banking, there are still people, particularly the elderly, who like to bank in person.
“During my meeting with HSBC yesterday, I highlighted the impact of their closure on local businesses and those people who don’t use online banking, as well as the provision of free ATMs in the town. They told me that they will be maintaining a branch in Rhyl, that customers will be able to access services at the Post Office in Prestatyn and that they will be reaching out to all customers who currently don’t use online banking to inform them of the alternative banking methods available.
“At the time of my meeting, I had not been informed of Barclays’ plans, so I have now gone back to HSBC to make them aware that once Barclays closes in May, they will be the only remaining bank in Prestatyn, with the hope being that this latest information may influence their decision to close.”
James added:
“In recent years Prestatyn has lost Santander, NatWest, a Credit Union, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Yorkshire Building Society. It now stands to lose TSB, Barclays and HSBC. If banks are adamant on closing, then they need to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are available to their customers, and I will continue putting pressure on HSBC and Barclays to ensure that they are.
“As well as meeting with Barclays and going back to HSBC, I have also called for a meeting with TSB in a bid to convince them to preserve the cash point at the top of the High Street. If they do not agree to do this then the High Street will be left without a single ATM. This is very concerning when so many independent businesses still rely on cash income.
“For a town with the size, demographics and shopping facilities of Prestatyn to lose three major banks within a year, such that it will be left with no bank at all, demonstrates a failure of the banking sector to work together to look at the needs of the community and at common sense.”
James was pleased to be told by HSBC that there will be no staff redundancies at Prestatyn, with all staff being transferred to other branches. He hopes the situation will be the same for Barclays staff and will be raising this with the bank when he meets with them.
He has also sought assurances from HSBC regarding the maintenance of the bank branch premises following closure and until such time as another use is found
