The fight to save Langney Barclays branch is on

Barclays announced yesterday (Friday) it would be closing the branch on May 7 due to the ‘use of the branch declining’ as customers turn to online and telephone banking.

However, the news has been met with outrage and upset by local residents who rely on the branch in Langney Shopping Centre.

Local councillors Alan Shuttleworth and Candy Vaughn say they have spoken to some of the bank’s customers and will be fighting against the decision.

Councillor Shuttleworth said, “We intend to fight this closure. So many people rely on the bank and are simply unable to get to the centre of Eastbourne or cannot afford to.

“The closure would affect the elderly disproportionately and would leave local businesses and schools, as well as many people from Langney and the surrounding area, with real problems.”

Councillor Shuttleworth said he will be writing to the chief executive of Barclays bank to make the case to keep this ‘key bank in a strategic location’ open.

The closure follows on from the shutdown of the Post Office in the shopping centre, which the councillors say has hit the local community hard.

Councillor Shuttleworth said, “We are still fighting for the reopening of the Post Office in the shopping centre and I hope we will have some positive news on this front in the near future.

“With the threat of losing the bank it is crucial to get the Post Office open again.”

Councillor Candy Vaughan said, “This bank is a vital local amenity and serves a wide catchment area.

“If it were allowed to close it would cause real hardship for some people, and enormous inconvenience including the loss of an important means to access money.

“We urge all those affected to write to Barclays Bank to make the case to keep the branch open.”

A petition has been launched on Change.org appealing for the bank to reverse its decision.

It has so far amassed more than 200 signatures, and you can view it here.

Barclays says customer use of the branch has declined by 15 per cent in the last two years.

Jon Clowes, market director for the bank, said, “The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices.

“Over four fifths (81 per cent) of our customers now use telephone and online banking, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close the branch.

“We hope the availability of our nearby Barclays branch in Eastbourne, along with our range of digital channels, will help to ease the transition for our customers.”

Barclays said the staff at Langney will be offered roles at other branches.