MP SLAMS ‘UNCARING’ BARCLAYS AFTER ORMSKIRK BRANCH CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT

Immediate release: Friday 29 July

West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has slammed Barclays for their decision to shut down their Ormskirk branch, branding it 'a selfish betrayal' of their loyal and elderly customers.

The Bank have said that its branch, currently located on Aughton Street, will close on Friday 28th October.

This comes shortly over a year after the bank closed their Skelmersdale branch, which was a move that was also heavily criticised by Rosie.

The Ormskirk branch was the last in West Lancashire, leaving customers of Barclays with no option but to travel to Liverpool or Southport if they need in-branch services.

Rosie said: “I am once again appalled by the selfish and uncaring decision by Barclays to close their Ormskirk Branch. We need to support the high street now more than ever, but Barclays have chosen to jump ship – abandoning the loyal customers who rely on in person services, many that are elderly or vulnerable.

“Undoubtedly people are using more online banking and less people need to use a bank branch, but there are still many people that cannot or do not use these services and need the in-person customer service that only a bank branch can offer.

“It is not acceptable to simply abandon these people because it is inconvenient or costly. My constituents will have to travel a fair distance to reach a branch, many by public transport.

“Although Barclays say that everyday transactions can be carried out at the Post Office, this is no replacement for an actual bank branch. Post Offices are also slowly disappearing, and just this week the Ormskirk Post Office site on County Road announced it was closing its doors. What happens when there are none left?

“I also find it disgraceful that in their letter to customers alerting them to the closure, Barclays have said they are consulting with MPs about the closure. They only contacted me the day of the announcement, and my response is ‘Don’t close the branch!’

“I have written in the strongest possible terms to the Secretary of State for Business to ask what can be done to protect our in-branch banking.”