Councillors ask other banks to open in Barnard Castle as NatWest faces closure

A CAMPAIGN to stop a bank branch from closing in Barnard Castle has got the backing of the town council. 

The appeal to stop NatWest from closing its branch in Market Place was launched by town’s county councillors two weeks ago.

The branch’s doors are due to close for the last time on May 1 next year. It is one of 197 that will be shut nationwide.

County councillors Richard Bell, Ted Henderson, George Richardson and James Rowlandson have started a petition against the move.

Clients will have to travel to Darlington or Bishop Auckland to do their banking after the closure.

In a special meeting on Monday last week, the town council decided not only to join the campaign but also to look at alternative services that can be attracted to the town.

However, Cllr Judy Sutherland was sceptical about whether the campaign would have any impact,

She said: “I think it is commendable but futile. We have to think what we might do to get similar services or second best in the town.”

Among the ideas she put forward was to ask Lloyds bank to bring its mobile service to the town or to try to attract the recently established Metro Bank to open a branch in the town.

She said: “I can see the biggest problem will be businesses who need to put cash in, or cheques in, and get floats out.”

Town mayor Cllr Sandra Moorhouse was adamant about supporting the campaign even if it was unsuccessful.

She said: “At least we have made our voice heard. We can but try.”

She added that a lot of people in rural areas do not have access to decent broadband and are unable to do mobile banking. A number of elderly people also did not know how to use internet banking, she said. Should the branch closure go ahead, only one bank, Barclays, will remain open in the town.

Cllr Roger Peat said: “We need to encourage people to use what banking facilities there are.”

The petition against the closure is available to sign in the Teesdale Mercury shop, at 24 Market Place.