EDDC Chairman supports parishioners fight to keep bank branch open

East Devon District Council Chairman Cllr Stuart Hughes has thrown his weight behind a community’s fight to keep its Lloyds Bank branch.

Parishioners of St Andrew’s Parish Church in Colyton have written to the Chairman of Lloyds Bank, Lord Norman Blackwell, appealing to him in the strongest terms to keep their bank branch open.

In their letter, the rector of the church the Rev Hilary Dawson and her two church wardens Christine Sansom and David Fouracre, say: “It would appear in the world of big business, small is not beautiful: however, to a community like ours such a facility is crucial.

“We have a predominately elderly population living in a rural location. Many are without private transport, and public transport is infrequent and impractical for those with mobility problems. Many of the elderly are not computer literate, so on-line banking is not an option for them. A large proportion of the Colyton population have banked with Lloyds for many years, primarily because we have a fully functioning bank within the community.”

They add: “Your planned closure of this branch reflects the continued marginalisation of a hithero thriving rural community.”

Cllr Hughes is fully supporting the parishioners and has echoed their concerns in a further letter to Lord Blackwell.

Cllr Hughes said: “Small branches like the one in Colyton are vital for rural communities and I am asking that the Lloyds Banking Group gives serious reconsideration to closing it. Such facilities are absolutely key to the life of our communities and we need to keep them open.”

Cllr Helen Parr, a ward member for Coly Valley Ward on East Devon District Council, added: “Not only will the loss of Lloyds Bank be a blow to personal customers, especially older customers, but it will also hit businesses and the many organisations and societies who bank with Lloyds of Colyton. The loss of our only bank would be a serious threat to the economic prosperity of the town.”