HUNDREDS of people have signed a petition calling for the Old Town branch of Nationwide to be kept open.

The names were collected within one week, and campaign leader, trader David Blaylock, is planning to hand over the petition to the building society’s head office, in Pipers Way, at 2.30pm today.

The closure of the Wood Street branch, along with the branch in Gorse Hill, is part of a countrywide reorganisation, which has also affected branches in London.

But the decision has caused outrage among Old Town residents and some traders.

“We’ve had comments like, ‘it’ll be a shame if another shop in Old Town goes’ and ‘I think it’s a bad thing it’s going’,” said Mr Blaylock (pictured).

Former Old Town trader Michael Morse said he was prepared to offer some time for the cause and stood out outside the building society’s Wood Street office and the Co-Op supermarket for a couple of mornings last week to collect signatures. On one day alone he collected more than 100 names.

The petition is also available to sign at various businesses in Old Town.

Josh Weatheritt, an employee at Old Town Hardware, in Wood Street, said their copy of the petition had already received more than 100 signatures.

It is also available to sign at Mana’s Beauticians and Dinnings Diner, both in Devizes Road, and at Earles newsgents, in Newport Street.

“This is an area where there are a lot of older people and a lot of them can’t drive and walk to the local building society branch to put their money in,” said Rosemary Earle, who runs the newsagent.

A spokesman for Nationwide said all feedback from customers was taken seriously and that they would accept the petition when it arrives.

“However, we undertook a thorough analysis of our five branches in Swindon, their proximity to other Nationwide branches and how many customers use them,” he said.

“As a result, we have made the difficult but carefully considered decision to close the branches in Old Town and Gorse Hill.

“We remain committed to operating three good-sized branches in Swindon and are investing in our presence in the town by refurbishing our Regent Street and Croft branches.”