A BISHOP'S Waltham resident has slammed a high street bank after it closed last month.

Lloyds, in The Square, closed on January 24, leaving the town without a bank.

Ian Leesmith said the situation was 'an absolute farce'.

Mr Leesmith, of Little Shore Lane, said: “I wrote to the chief executive of Lloyds bank to ask why they were doing this. Before, they said they wouldn't leave towns without a bank. The town's cash machines run out of cash and not everyone is able to drive to the nearest bank.”

Mr Leesmith, 81, is the treasurer of the charity Bishop's Waltham in Bloom and said that he had found it difficult to move the account online. 

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He managed to get around 40 people and businesses to sign a petition against the bank's closure, which he included in his letter to the chief executive. In response, he was sent £30 in compensation.

He said: “The whole organisation is a sham. Lots of pubs and even the local butcher just take card now. I was in the bank the day before it closed, and there must have been a queue of at least ten people. People are very aggrieved by this.”

Bishop's Waltham Parish Council announced that an ATM was installed inside the Co-op, in High Street, on February 9.

A parish council spokesman said: “The parish council has been greatly saddened at the loss of the two banks on the High Street in Bishop’s Waltham. 

“We are aware that many of our residents don’t use internet banking and most require cash for their daily needs. Our wide range of shops benefit from resident and visitor spending and the availability of cash is key to keeping this economy thriving.

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“Since August, the parish council has requested that the two town centre supermarkets consider installing ATMs. We are delighted to now see the facility within the Co-operative Store and thank the managers and staff for their support of this community need. We hope Sainsbury’s will offer likewise in due course.

“We are also thankful that our local Spar can offer ATM services as an external unit and are very appreciative of the Post Office staff in providing a range of banking services to support our town."

Previously, a Lloyds Bank spokesman said: “We see 78 per cent of customers already using other branches in the local area, such as Hedge End branch in Southampton.

“The nearby Post Office on High Street, offers personal and business customers everyday banking services, access to cash, paying in of cheques, and more.”