Hopes dashed of saving Blaenavon bank (From Free Press Series)

Hopes dashed of saving Blaenavon bank

10:14am Wednesday 1st February 2012 in News By Hayley Mills

HSBC will not back down on its decision to close its Blaenavon branch despite anger in the town. Campaigners met bank representatives yesterday but failed to persuade them to change their mind.

It is now likely the bank will close on May 11.

This is despite more than 1,000 people signing a petition and more than 100 packing into a public meeting to oppose the plans.

Speaking after yesterday's meeting mayor councillor Stuart Evans said the meeting had gone as well as could be expected and although disappointed by the decision he was not totally surprised.

He said: "We were going down there under no illusions but we had to appeal to their better nature."

He added that he thought the people of Blaenavon would feel very let down by the bank. Within minutes of the meeting Wales' first minister Carwyn Jones slammed the decision.

He said: "I think there are serious questions to be asked about the provision of financial services in communities that lose their banks.

"We've seen it in other parts of Wales and I very much regret the decision by HSBC to close their branch in Blaenavon.

"At a time when the bankers are receiving bonuses in the millions, financial services are being denied to many people across Wales and the UK."

At a private meeting held between representatives of HSBC and MP Paul Murphy and local AM, Lynne Neagle, last Friday, it was agreed that if the HSBC branch does close then the cash point will remain, subject to planning permission.

Town Councillor, Alan Jones, who was at the meeting, said: "While we are obviously very disappointed that the bank are unwilling to think again and reverse their decision.

"We're determined to find a better way forward, and are pleased that they've agreed to leave a cash point in the town.

"We feel they should be doing much more to inform their customers about other banking possibilities, such as shared banking facilities and mobile banking units."

Blaenavon Mayor Stuart Evans, and town councillors Janet Jones, Pauline Whitcombe, Brian Whitcombe and Elwyn Griffin went door to door to collect signatures for the petition, which was then presented to HSBC representatives yesterday.

Cllr Evans said: "From the elderly residents to people in pubs and clubs and locals on the streets, everyone just wants to see the bank saved."

The town council also held a public meeting last week, that attracted over 120 people, and was the first time that many residents had been able to air their views.

The Mayor, Cllr Stuart Evans, explained that a letter had been received from HSBC's Wales regional manager, Pete Muscat, it outlined that the reason behind the closure is that the branch is "poor performing" and "not achieving the level of business needed to make it sustainable."

If the bank closes Blaenavon residents will have to travel to Pontypool or Abergavenny to use banking facilities.

Residents were asked by the town council if they would support a bigger campaign in the form of a march.

It received a mixed opinion. Resident Alan Parry said: "Did marches do us any good in the past? No. It should be left to the elected members."

While Lynne Tanner added: "I understand that marches haven't worked as wanted in the past, but should we just roll over? No. We can be thorns in their flesh."

Main concerns from residents were elderly people having to travel further with their pension money making them vulnerable to being pick pocketed and businesses needing to travel further with takings to get change.