Lease sparks questions on bank’s future

Landlord issues termination notice

There are doubts over the future of the Bank of Scotland branch in Bridge of Allan.

The Observer understands that solicitors acting for the landlord Junior Estates have issued the Henderson Street bank with a termination notice.

The lease is due to expire in July 2018 and it is believed the decision to issue the notice came on the back of numerous failed attempts at dialogue with the bank over a possible extension.

If the branch were to close it would come as a major blow to the town – which has seen the closures of the Clydesdale and TSB Banks in recent times.

The bank say that a decision on the renewal of the lease will be made nearer to the time of expiry, and that property agents are currently in contact with the landlord.

However a spokesperson for Bridge of Allan-based Junior Estates said: “We have been trying to make contact with the Bank of Scotland – through their agents – for the past 14 months, to determine their intention at the end of the lease in July 2018. We received no reply whatsoever.

“A few weeks ago we made direct contact with the bank and eventually received confirmation that they were not in a position to renew, or extend the lease, and that they would only be paying communal bills until the termination of the lease.

“We were therefore left with no option other than to issue a notice to quit.

“Unless the bank intends to move to another site – I think very unlikely, this will be one less bank in the town with only the RBS left.”

A Bank of Scotland spokesperson said: “We have not announced any changes in relation to our branch in Bridge of Allan.

“If we do make the difficult decision to close a branch, we would always communicate our intention to our colleagues, customers and the local community first.”

Left with no option other than to issue a notice to quit