THE decision to close Machynlleth’s NatWest bank in October has sparked calls from town councillors for a public meeting.

The announcement that NatWest was planning to close the branch in the town, as well as the one at Welshpool, was greeted with shock and anger in the town.

The closure means Machynlleth will be left with just one bank - the Barclays branch - open for just three days a week.

Montgomeryshire AM Russell George said he had arranged for a meeting with the NatWest regional manager, but Machynlleth town councillors have called for a full public meeting with NatWest representatives and town residents.

Cllr Rhydian Mason said it was only fair that residents in the town had the chance to make their views heard about the closure.

He said: “We should try to get a meeting facilitated with the people of the town.

“We need to make it clear to representatives of NatWest that we value their presence in the town and their presence benefits them.”

NatWest said the decision had been made after transactions in the Machynlleth branch had dropped by 13 per cent and because there were more people using digital banking.

See this week’s Cambrian News Machynlleth & Llanidloes edition for the full story, in shops and online now