RESIDENTS in Highworth have spoken of their anger at the prospect of losing the town’s only bank.

The Lloyds branch will close its doors in April forcing customers to travel into Swindon to visit the nearest branch.

Lloyds have claimed that the changing nature of banking has meant that fewer people now use the High Street store, with around 68 per cent of Highworth customers already using other branches and other ways to bank, such as online or over the phone.

Reflecting the views of a lot of Highworth residents, the town’s Mayor Alan Bishop said: “We are really disappointed, the NatWest bank closed some time ago so this will now leave us with no bank at all.

“They have said that they will bring one of these mobile units in for a couple of hours each week in the market square so people can do their banking there, or they can transfer to Swindon or Faringdon.

“With the new builds going on around us, Highworth will have a population of around 10,000. I don’t think Faringdon is as big as that.

“And with Swindon, although we’ve got a very good bus service, to go in just to visit the bank is more of a chore than a pleasure, I would think.”

The closest alternative branches are located in Gorse Hill and Faringdon.

Highworth councillors are set to hold talks with North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson on November 25 in the MPs offices, located in the Orbital Centre, to see if there is anything that can be done to prevent the closure.

Although, as the mayor suggested: “If a bank says it’s going to close, that’s what it does. I don’t think there is really any point in starting a petition or anything like that.”

Mr Tomlinson told the Adver: “This is a major blow to both local customers and to the Highworth High Street. I have organised an urgent meeting with Lloyds next Friday and I have invited representatives of High Town Council so we explore all options.

“Whilst I understand there has been a decrease in footfall as customers switch to online banking, they seem to have missed a trick to boost numbers following the closure of NatWest. We will be pressing all options as Lloyds is vital to the local community.”

NatWest closed its Highworth store early last year after almost 40 years in the town.

A Lloyds Bank spokesperson said: “We have made the difficult decision to close the Highworth branch on April 4 2017. This branch has been identified for closure because of the changing way customers choose to bank with us, which has resulted in customers using it less often. The majority of customers now regularly use alternative branches or use other ways to bank such as online and telephone banking to complete their banking needs.

“We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and have informed customers of the closest alternative branches, which are Gorse Hill and Faringdon. We are investing in a new fleet of mobile branches for Lloyds Bank to help customers in more rural communities, one of which will visit Highworth. Full details of the mobile branch service will be available in advance of the new service becoming operational.”