Axed banks issue raised in Welsh Assembly

* Demo tomorrow: the HSBC bank in Bridge Street. 

Members of the Welsh Assembly are to be updated on the closure of three HSBC bank branches, including the one in Llangollen, according to a Cabinet Minister.

In the Senedd, North Wales Conservative AM Mark Isherwood called for a government statement on the issue, which has sparked anger in the town and will be the subject of a demonstration outside the Bridge Street bank tomorrow (Thursday) at 12 noon.

Addressing Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Local Government and Government Business and AM for Wrexham, he said: "I wish to raise a matter that I know that you, personally, will be concerned about, namely the announcement by HSBC that it is closing its Llangollen, Conwy and Beaumaris branches.

"What engagement is the Welsh Government having, could have, or will have, with the bank regarding this?

 

"Widespread concerns have been raised by constituents, business constituents and individual customers regarding the impact this will have on those areas, on themselves, the wellbeing of the businesses in their towns, on their communities, but also on the many thousands of tourists who visit the area.

 

"They are afraid that rural areas are taking the brunt, that this is not in the interest of customers and that it is a short-sighted business decision. They believe that we need to take a longer term, truly customer-focused approach."

 

Ms Griffiths replied: "In relation to your concerns about the closure of HSBC branches - and you referred to Llangollen in my colleague Ken Skates’s constituency - the Minister for Economy, Science and Transport has discussions with all banks and will update the Assembly in due course."