COUNCILLORS have spoken of their huge disappointment and accused Lloyds bank of allowing its famous “black horse” to gallop out of Wellington with news of it closing its branch in the town, writes Steve Sowden.

The announcement by Lloyds to close its branch in Fore Street – the last remaining bank in Wellington – was made last week on the back of a drop in customer visitors and a rise in digital online banking.

But members of Wellington Town Council want quick confirmation that a planned banking hub will be set-up in the area before Lloyds closes its branch in September or by next March at the latest.

The Lloyds situation was discussed by town councillors on Monday (April 3) as a matter or “urgent business” and they said that not everybody did online banking.

Cllr Ross Henley said: “Lloyds’ famous black horse has bolted and is galloping out of Wellington. It is shameful and shabby what is happening here.

“If we can get this banking hub up and running all well and good, but we need it to open before the Lloyds branch closes.”

Cllr Henley added: “These hubs are manned by Post Office staff, but we don’t have a Post Office actually in Wellington! We can’t let Lloyds off easy over this.

“A large minority of people out there watched the digital revolution pass them by. Online banking doesn’t suit everybody.”

He made several references to his hopes that the banking hub did not prove to be “jam tomorrow” – an expression used to describe a never-fulfilled promise or something which is never likely to materialise.

Cllr Andrew Govier said he was “shocked” when he heard the news about Lloyds closing.

“It is easy to criticise Lloyds, but they have stayed longer than the others,” he said in reference to other banks which had closed branches in Wellington in recent years.

“I would like to see more concrete proposals for the banking hub, while perhaps this might by default see a Post Office come back into the town.”

The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Nancy Powell-Brace, said: “Not all of Lloyds’ customers bank online. It might be what they want us to be doing, but there is a significant amount of people who don’t and can’t.

“Lloyds’ reasoning for closing the branch has been worded to suit their own needs. I don’t think we should roll over and take it.

“We as a town council were accused of not doing anything to save the Post Office – people blamed us! I’m still accosted by people about the Post Office closing in Wellington.”

Cllr Keith Wheatley said: “I think Lloyds are saying that not enough people are banking off-line in order to sustain such a large building in Wellington.

“But I don’t think we should go to war, metaphorically speaking, with Lloyds because I think that might be counter-productive. I don’t think ‘beating up’ Lloyds will help.

“Perhaps we should start thinking about how the Lloyds building could be used for the community rather than a bank?”

Town clerk Dave Farrow told councillors that he had already opened up email correspondence with the delivery director of Cash Access UK – the company which will set up the planned banking hub.

“It’s Lloyds’ decision to close the branch here, but we’ve found that Cash Access UK will set up the banking hub and so we need to engage with them.

“I have been corresponding with them and have invited them to attend a future council meeting.

“I’m not emailing into a black hole – I’ve made contact with the delivery director and I’ve had emailed correspondence with them and they are keen to work with us.”

Mr Farrow said the planned banking hub would consist of a cash desk, an interview room and staff facilities.

Cllr Marcus Barr said: “I do everything online now and I’m to blame for this just as anybody else. I don’t reckon in ten or 15 years there will be any bank branches left.”

And he quipped that Mr Farrow should start his own bank – The Bank of Dave – in reference to the title of a film released earlier this year based on the real-life experiences of Dave Fishwick who set-up a community bank in Burnley to support the town’s local businesses thrive.

“The town clerk should open his own bank – The Bank of Dave,” said Cllr Barr.