STINGING LETTER SLATES STATE OF TOWN

Plaid MP hits out as HSBC refuse to rethink three closures

CAMPAIGNERS have accused HSBC of showing “no regard to the specific needs of rural communities” in a row over branch closures.

The banking giant is set to shut its Blaenau Ffestiniog branch by September this year, alongside banks in Tywyn and Barmouth, blaming a 40% reduction in footfall.

The impending closure would leave Blaenau Ffestiniog with no bank, less than a year after Nat- West axed its branches in the towns.

A crunch meeteeting with HSBCBC bosses was heldd earlier this week where Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts and councillors from all three towns duringg which a petitionn signed by moreore than 800 peopleople asking them to reconsider their decicision was handedd over. ● MP Liz Saville Roberts

However HSBC said its decision was final. Now Ms Roberts has accused HSBC of showing no regard whatsoever to the specific needs of rural communities.

She said: “I’m bitterly disappointed that HSBC are determined to push ahead with the closure of these three branches despite o overwhelming oppositionopposit from communitycomm leaders, businesses andan local people.”pl “Their socalled consultation was nothingn of the ssort. “Communitiestie should havehav been informedinfor that the bankbank wasw consideringing brabranch closures ratherather than being presented with a commercial decision made on grounds which appear only to benefit a distant interest. “In removing these vital community services what the bank is doing is deciding on its own figures whether it wants to keep the branches open and then discuss how best to put that into effect. The communities involved have been ostracised from the decision process.”

In June, about a dozen campaigners protested outside HSBC’s Blaenau Ffestiniog branch.

Ms Roberts added: “The bank is now considering keeping or installing ATMs in the three communities affected by this decision and I will be pressing them to do just that.

“This is another example of the centralisation of local services with rural communities across Wales being denied access to a local bank and local people being denied the opportunity to bank with people they know and trust.”

An HSBC spokesman said: “We met with Liz Saville Roberts MP earlier this week to explain the rationale for closing the HSBC branches in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Barmouth and Tywyn.

“We have conducted a thorough review of these branches and have had to make the difficult decision to close the branches which have seen a reduction in footfall by 40%.”