BANK bosses have been accused of not taking effect of closures on rural communities

Cllr Pauline Dee, of Wem Town Council, spoke out after Barclays announced this week that it was to close its branch in the town.

She told how the Natwest branch in Wem closed down around 18 months ago and added: "It's very, very concerning. These large corporations don't take into account the effect that their closures have on the local economy."

Branches are also set to close include Much Wenlock, Church Stretton, Newport.

Cllr Dee - also Shropshire councillor for Wem Urban, Wem Rural and Whixall - added: "They say everybody banks online - they don't. Our population in Shropshire is very much tilted towards senior citizens and particularly in Wem we have got a high figure, and not all of them are online.

"I think it's wrong that they provide inadequate services to customers."

Ramona Enfield, Barclays community banking director for the area, said: “The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices.

"At Barclays Wem branch, customer usage has continued to decline (10 per cent in the last 24 months), which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close it.

"We hope that the availability of our other Barclays branches at Whitchurch and Shrewsbury and access to banking services at the local Post Office currently located at High Street, Wem along with our range of digital channels will help to ease the transition for our customers.”