Businesses have blasted Barclays in Barmouth for leaving the town cash point empty over the Easter weekend – apparently because a painter’s ladder was a safety risk!

The cash point attached to the bank which closed last year remained empty throughout the Easter weekend, leaving visitors unable to access cash anywhere in the town.

The issue arose following a risk assessment carried out by the bank at the site.

Barmouth Mayor, Cllr Jamie Brooks, said: “When Barclays closed the branch last year, they assured us the cash point would remain in the town.

“A lot of businesses say they lost out over the Easter weekend because people couldn’t get any money out of the cash point.

“I am told it was an issue with a risk assessment carried out by Barclays when renovation work was being carried out at the old bank.

“A painter had a ladder near the cash point for only a matter of minutes and the inspector deemed this a risk and Barclays refused to fill the cash point.”

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