Dismay over Lloyds Bank closure in Aldridge
Almost 200 people have signed a petition against plans to close down a Walsall bank branch by the end of the year.
Residents, business and politicians called Lloyds' decision to shut the Aldridge High Street branch on December 1 "disappointing".
The firm said the number of people visiting the bank had dropped by more than 70 per cent in the last five years, with more people switching to online services.
But Aldridge councillor Tim Wilson said he launched an online petition which collected almost 200 signatures within days, which showed the strength of feeling in the community.
He added that he and Aldridge-Brownhills MP Wendy Morton were due to meet Lloyds Bank bosses to urge them to reconsider.
Lloyds said customers can use other branches such as the one in Walsall as well as the Post Office on nearby Northgate. The company also explained there would be no redundancies as a result of the closure.
Customer Clare Taylor said they have a business account for their family-run MOT and car repair company Taylors Auto on Northgate.
She said: “We’ve been running that for 12 years. My husband and his family have traded here for years and we’ve been customers for all that time.
“Our business is just local to here on Northgate so to come to this branch is really useful, otherwise we’d have to go to Lichfield or Walsall.
“It is handy and we want to see the local shops [keep] going around here. But this could see people lose trade if people are being sent elsewhere.
“And it’s such a shame as you build a connection with the staff over the counter. I don’t know if we would change banks but we’ve been happy with Lloyds.”
Another customer, Matthew Cook, said: “There was a Halifax and a Santander and they’ve both closed, while the Barclay’s closed around three months ago, so now this is closing.
“I have an account with Lloyds and it is really disappointing. I don’t really understand the thinking behind it because there is a lot happening in Aldridge such as new housing being built, the station reopening in 2027.
“My parents are in their 90s so they are not going to be able to just go into Walsall to use the bank.”
Councillor Wilson said: “I think Lloyds bank are short sighted and I think they’ve come to us too late.
“They’ve made a decision and we’ve challenged it and had a response back which is not the one we wanted.
“We launched a petition and had nearly 200 signatures in no time to show people want the Lloyds branch here. They want to come and bank locally.
“There is a strong feeling in the community that they want to keep the branch there.
“With our elderly population, who can’t use or aren’t confident to use internet banking and can’t travel to Walsall or Lichfield, I think this is definitely the wrong decision.”
Councillor Wilson added he was dubious of figures Lloyds quoted to him saying only 50 or so people used the branch regularly and said he would be asking when the survey was carried out.
He said: “We’re hoping we can convince them to reconsider. It’s not acceptable to send people to the post office.
“The post office is already busy and at peak times you see the queue out on Northgate, so I don’t think adding the pressure on to staff is the answer.”
Mrs Morton said: “You can see people locally want this branch to stay open. Aldridge is a vibrant village centre and we’ve seen people queuing at the bank.
“I fear it is fait accompli but that doesn’t mean to say we’re going to accept it, so we will keep asking the question and see what can be done to keep it open.
“People use banks for a range of services and when you think of a community like Aldridge, it has got a large reach.
“To close the bank and say ‘your next one is just down the road in Walsall’ is not what we should be doing. We should be investing in high streets.
“Yes, people do a lot online but not everyone does. People come into Aldridge for a number of reasons and I find it deeply disappointing they’ve chosen to do this.”
A Lloyds Bank spokesperson said: “Visits to our Aldridge Walsall branch have dropped over recent years and transactions have fallen significantly, as many customers now choose to bank in different ways.
“When the branch closes in December, customers can continue to bank in person with us at The Bridge Walsall branch, or at the local Post Office on Northgate.”
