Fight on to save Wath's last two banks

PEOPLE living in Wath could be left without a bank amid plans to close two branches in the town.

Hundreds of people have signed a petition against plans to close Yorkshire Bank and HSBC, claiming Wath is “having the life sucked out of it”.

CYBG, Yorkshire Bank’s parent company, announced last week that the Sandygate branch would be one of 39 across the country to close following an “ongoing decline” in usage.

And HSBC revealed plans on Tuesday to close its Wath branch this year as one of 62 to go.

Campaigners claimed the proposed closures were the latest in a series of blows for the town and called on bosses to reconsider.

Katy North, who set up the online petition, said: “I am not normally one to lead but I am a Wath girl and I have used the branch of Yorkshire Bank for as long as I can remember.

“I know that everyone is having to cut costs but it’s the fact that Wath is having the life sucked out of it.

“It feels like everyone is trying to take things out of our community.”

The petition has already attracted more than 350 signatures since it was set up on Thursday.

Mrs North (38), of High Street, Wath, said: “What gets me is it’s a bustling town - there are lots of people who live here.

“It’s a really busy branch. There are so many times I have gone in and there has been a big queue.

“I know they have made this decision based on facts and figures but they don’t look at the effect on the community.

“We’ve got to fight these plans for the sake of our town.”

MP John Healey said he was “angry” at the plans and had written to the chief executives of both banks calling on them to change their minds.

He said: “Wath is known as the queen of villages but this could rip the heart out of the town.”

Gavin Opperman, customer banking director at Yorkshire Bank, said the branch would close on May 12, with Wombwell being the nearest branch for people living in Wath.

But Mrs North added: “There is going to be nothing at all in the centre of Wath \!a it’s going to become a ghost town.”

Mr Opperman said the move was in line with “changes to the way customers want to bank with us”.

Around 200 jobs will go across the country at Yorkshire Bank, and 180 at HSBC.

Francesa McDonagh, HSBC’s head of retail banking, said: “We are contacting customers to explain the decision and help them with alternative ways to bank with us.”

For more information or to see the petition, visit www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-YB-wath.