A PETITION has been set up in a bid to save the Old Town branch of the Nationwide Building Society from closure.

The branch in Wood Street is under threat as part of a country-wide reorganisation but the move has prompted some traders in the area to take action.

Now they hope their rallying cry will stir others to fight to keep the building society open.

David Blaylock, of Blaylocks Shoes, who is behind the petition, spent Saturday morning outside the building society collecting signatures and managed to get almost 100 people to sign.

He said: “I just felt I should do something about it.

“I felt the Nationwide didn’t ought to go without giving some chance for people to express their objections to a disappointing decision.

“I hope the decision to close the Old Town branch may even get reversed.

“There are a lot of people in the Old Town area who’d find getting into another office in the town or Pipers Way difficult.”

Mr Blaylock also feels that the Nationwide headquarters in Pipers Wat is not easy to get to and would involve more people who would normally walk using cars and raising environmental issues.

He said he had received a positive response from members of the public – mainly Nationwide customers who had stopped to sign.

“I think the decision has been taken without thinking about the economic impact it will have on the area,” he said.

“It is the only building society in Old Town and people use it because of its location and close proximity to where they live.

“ It is a commercial enterprise used by a lot of people who shop in Old Town, who get out cash and spend it locally. If they can’t get their money here and have to go to New Town, will they come back to Old Town to spend it?”

Mr Blaylock said the copies of the petition are available until February 24, at Blaylocks at the corner of Bath Road, Old Town Hardware in Wood Street, Mana’s beauticians and Dinnings Cafe in Devizes Road.

One concerned resident, who signed the petition was Mrs Dee Tyler, 43, of Old Town, who said: “It is very convenient. I can walk from my house to here. In town parking is a nightmare.

“A lot of elderly people live in the area and I really think it is a bit selfish to move the Nationwide to Pipers Way or Regent Street.”

Richard Deacon, chairman of the Old Town Business and Professional Association, said: “We feel the Nationwide in Old Town is important to the local economy and many businesses have made representations to the association in protest. We will seek a meeting with the Nationwide to discuss this.”

Nationwide plans to close 13 branches around the country.

It has written to its customers who use the branch to advise them of branches nearby and alternative services.