Meltham 'abandoned' by Lloyds TSB as bank closes
Sep 8 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Town ‘abandoned’ as bank branch closes
MELTHAM people say they feel abandoned after a bank announced it was closing its local branch.
Lloyds TSB will close its branch at Wessenden Head Road, Meltham, on November 26.
The cash machine at the branch will cease to be in use from the date of closure.
A letter has been sent to customers directing them to branches at Carr Lane, Slaithwaite, Victoria Street, Holmfirth, and Cloth Hall Street, Huddersfield.
The letter says: “I appreciate that news of this closure may be disappointing. Please accept my apologies for this and any disruption it may cause you.”
Villagers say they feel they have been abandoned.
Holme Valley North councillor and Meltham resident Terry Lyons said: “We are going to lose the only bank in the village. We need a cash machine outside the post office. You can’t swing a cat in there.
“The fire station is under threat and there’s no fixed youth centre anymore. I feel we’re being marginalised and abandoned.”
Another villager Susan Wood said: “The bank is always busy. Meltham is a growing township.
“Lloyds’ decision makers have given no thought to the tremendous inconvenience this will cause the customers, both private and business.
“The closure is just another example of the contempt that the banking industry has for its customers. It is no longer a service industry.
“Banks are only interested in taking money, not in lending to businesses or supplying mortgages, nor indeed, in making it easy to use the system.”
Meanwhile Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney has arranged an urgent meeting with Lloyds TSB’s regional director Janet Theaker to discuss the closure.
