Chamber speaks out on bank closure

We have received the following press release:

Llangollen Chamber of Trade & Tourism is planning to object to the proposed closure of the HSBC Llangollen branch. 

 

All traders and residents are invited to register their objection by attending the celebration of 150 years of the branch in Llangollen and to hand in a letter of objection to the closure to Rachel Thomas, Regional Director, HSBC, Cardiff.   

   

In the November edition of the Llangollen News an advert from HSBC invited readers to come along on 21st November from 9.30am to 4.30pm and celebrate ‘An exhibition of memorabilia spanning over 150 years of banking at the Llangollen branch. All are welcome to attend’.  

 

Simon Collinge, spokesman for Llangollen Chamber of Trade & Tourism said,  

"This has been excellent timing by HSBC inviting residents and businesses to come along to the Llangollen branch to celebrate 150 years of trading. I’m sure the irony of the situation will not be missed by the HSBC bosses and a large turn-out of local traders and residents will clearly demonstrate the strong opposition to the proposed closure of such a popular branch’.  

 

At 12 noon a ceremony of “Tolling of the Bell” will take place and objectors have been invited to join in and bring a banner of objection to show the strength of feeling against this closure.  We will be presenting a Celebratory card to the Branch Manager with a request to keep the bank open for another 150 years.” 

 

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been pleased to receive sponsorship from Midland/ HSBC that has been broadcast in TV programmes all over the world. Llangollen Chamber of Trade cannot understand why HSBC should turn their backs on such a successful, peace promoting Town and HSBC’s international reputation as “a local bank” will undoubtedly be damaged. 

 

Local traders are mainly small businesses that rely heavily on being able to bank their takings and withdraw cash as well as receive advice.   A round trip to Wrexham for advice and to pay in takings is not a viable or safe option for our traders  and the majority of these account holders WOULD BE FORCED TO SWITCH to another bank . Similarly, many local charities and voluntary organisations are users of these facilities. The majority of these account holders are now considering switching to another bank in the town. 

 

Llangollen is a major tourist destination and our visitors from all over the world expect to see HSBC as a world-wide bank represented in our Town. 

 

Venue: HSBC Bank, Bridge Street, Llangollen 

Date: Thursday 21st November 

Time: 9.30am to 4.30pm. with “Tolling of the Bell “ and Card Presentation at 12noon.