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PONTYPRIDD MS & MP CALL FOR HALT TO BANK CLOSURES

Written by Gavin on 5th July 2021

Mick Antoniw, Member of Senedd for Pontypridd and Member of Parliament Alex Davies-Jones have been joined by local Councillor Graham Stacey in calling for Lloyds Banking Group to reverse its decision to close its Church Village branch.

Lloyds have announced, without consultation, that the Church Village branch will close on September the 27^th 2021.

Alex Davies-Jones MP said:

“This branch has provided an essential service, not only to people in Church Village, but to those in the neighbouring communities of Llantwit Fardre, Efail Isaf, Tonteg, Beddau and Tynant. The Church Village branch is also the closest branch for people and businesses in Taff’s Well, Nantgarw and Treforest following the closure of the Lloyd’s branch on the Treforest Industrial Estate in 2017.

“As in other Taff Ely communities who have seen bank closures, it will be parents with small children, older people and the disabled who will be hardest hit by this closure, with these people having to travel to the nearest branch in Pontypridd.” 

Mick Antoniw MS said:

“Whilst most people accept that on-line banking is becoming increasingly popular, they also expect Lloyds and the other big banks to honour their civic duty to maintain a service to those customers who choose to transact their business face to face.

“This closure is the latest in a long line of bank closures in Taff Ely, including those in Talbot Green, Tonyrefail and the Treforest Industrial Estate. Banks are part of the fabric that defines local communities and these ongoing closures threaten the quality and way of life for many people and we’re calling on Lloyds and all the other big banks to reconsider their bank closure programmes in this light.”

Councillor Graham Stacey added:

“The community is incredibly disappointed by this decision and in particular that loyal, local customers have not been consulted.

“To many people it appears that the banking industry has abandoned its customers completely and we’re calling on Lloyds to reconsider this decision as a matter of urgency.”