Chamber of Commerce criticises last bank closure in Axminster

The closure of the Lloyds Bank branch in Axminster represents a serious blow to both the community and businesses, says the town's Chamber of Commerce.

It also undermines the serious efforts that are being made to regenerate a town that has suffered a series of hefty blows over recent years.

 Axminster Chamber of Commerce chair Jane Rockett criticised the lack of consultation from the bank and promised that every effort would be made to try to fill the substantial gap that was being left.

 "To close the town's last remaining bank has major consequences for the community, and one would hope that it would be discussed beforehand rather than announced as a statement of fact," she said. 

 "While some of us have of necessity switched to online banking, there are many vulnerable and elderly people for whom a local branch is a necessity.

"The harsh fact is that those people will now have to drive or catch a bus to neighbouring towns to do their banking and will then shop there, so undermining Axminster's town centre. We are a dementia-friendly town, and losing our one remaining bank is a big backward step."

 The Chamber of Commerce's management committee will discuss the matter on Monday. Amongst the suggestions it will be considering will be asking NatWest to bring its mobile banking facility - currently stationed at the Tesco superstore on Mondays - to include a town centre location.

It will also consider asking the Post Office to increase its staffing to cope with the additional demand and to more intensively publicise its banking services. Chamber members will also look at the issue of losing the Lloyds cashpoint and of trying to secure support for a replacement. 

Closure of the last bank represents a further big challenge for a town that has seen its traditional carpet industry decline in recent years along with a succession of business closures. An effort to secure much needed funding from the Government's  High Streets Fund in 2019 failed.

Jane Rockett added: "Despite all that, there remains an underlying spirit in Axminster to turn all this around, and a commitment on the Chamber's part to work with the local authorities to put in place  regeneration initiatives. Help for our town is overdue but it appears to be in prospect."