COMMUNITY leaders have met with senior Barclays staff to discuss the proposed closure of its Llanidloes branch.

On 29 September, Russell George AM convened a meeting to discuss the situation and relay the community’s frustrations with the bank’s decision.

Meeting with senior management at Barclays, Mr George was joined by Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, county councilllor Phyl Davies and the mayor of Llanidloes, Cllr Janet Crisp, to underline the importance of over-the-counter banking services for the people of Llanidloes.

Barclays, which is the only bank operating in Llanidloes after other companies withdrew their services, intends to close the branch on 10 November­.

As a result, customers will be expected to travel to Newtown to use the nearest Barclays, or use the Post Office.

Following the meeting, Mr George said: “While I’m grateful to Barclays’ management for meeting with me, Glyn Davies MP and other local representatives, I was disappointed, but sadly not surprised, that they were not able to make a commitment to Llanidloes going forward.

“I had hoped for a different response given that, just two year ago, the bank had said they did not have plans to close this branch."

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