Jobs setback
Fears Cambuslang is‘a dead town’
Cambuslang has been dealt a double blow with the news jobs could go in the town and a popular bank is to close.
Clydesdale Bank will shut their Main Street branch, while Greggs are restructuring business at their Clydesmill bakery.
Customers of the Clydesdale Bank branch in Cambuslang have vented their frustration over the news of its closure.
The Main Street premises will shut its doors on June 8 as one of the 40 outlets in Scotland to close in a costcutting move to embrace “digital innovation”.
More than 200 jobs are set to be lost following their closures, but staff in Cambuslang are yet to find out if there will be any redundancies.
TSB Bank will now be the only bank to remain in Cambuslang after the Royal Bank of Scotland axed their branch in August last year.
Customer Derek Scott, 60, from Cambuslang was disappointed to hear of the closure and revealed his plans to change banks in the near future.
He told the Reformer: “This is not good at all. They have closed one in Blantyre and if they close this one I think I’m going to have to transfer banks.
“I guarantee the TSB is next. It’s a shame for Cambuslang , you see all the shops that will use it [Clydesdale Bank] for day-to-day business.”
If customers choose to stay with Clydesdale Bank, they will have to travel to Rutherglen’s branch which is 2.7 miles away. This angered Annette McLean, 51, from Cambuslang, who added: “I think it’s ridiculous. I’ve been a customer for over 30 years.
“What will happen to the older generation who can’t get to them [other branches].
“They may as well shut Cambuslang down because there’s nothing in it.
“It’s a big loss, everyone will now need to go to Rutherglen.”
Annan Drive resident Owen Flannigan, 74, agreed: “I think it’s a bad thing. We’ll need to go to Rutherglen now. And we need to book taxis and buses which will cost.
“Cambuslang is a dead town. All we have is bookies, pubs and takeaways and no banks.”
Anne Greer, 82, of Westburn Road, added: “It’s terrible. I’m a customer and that’s where all my money goes. What will I do now?
“I quite liked this one, it was quite handy for me.” In September 2016 CYBG PLC, the parent company of Clydesdale Bank, announced that its branch network would be reducing as part of the bank’s strategy to create an integrated digital, mobile, telephone and branch service for its customers.
Fo l l owi n g last ye a r ’s announcement, Clydesdale Bank confirmed that it will close 40 branches in 2017 and anticipated around 200 staff will be at risk of redundancy.
A spokesman for the company could not confirm how many jobs would be lost at the Cambuslang branch, but assured all employees affected by the changes will be fully supported through the process.
Clydesdale Bank’s customer banking director, Gavin Opperman, said: “While the decision to close any branch is never an easy one, it is important that we, in line with other banks operating in the UK market, continue to respond to changes in the way customers want to bank with us.
“The changes announced continue our journey towards a model that combines an enhanced digital platform with a right sized branch network; allowing customers to interact with us through a wide range of channels – mobile, online, telephone, in-branch – whenever and however they want.”
What will happen to older customers? They may as well shut Cambuslang down Annette McLean