HASLEMERE has been dealt another blow as yet another High Street bank announced it was closing – leaving the town with just one – Lloyds – from next summer.

Objectors hit back by describing claims just 35 customers were using the town’s Nat West branch every week as “nonsense” – saying they usually had to queue.

Borough councillor Robert Knowles fired off an urgent question at last Tuesday’s Waverley full council meeting, demanding to know what representations the portfolio holder for economic development – Godalming councillor Adam Boulton – had made to all the banks that had axed their local branches.

Mr Knowles called the outcome, leaving Haslemere with a population in three counties, of some 18,000 people and a much larger number in surrounding villages, with just one bank in the town centre, and the likelihood of the closure of the West Street post office, as ‘totally unacceptable’.

Waverley responded to say the council shared his concern and was meeting with Haslemere Chamber of Commerce next week and had contacted town MP Jeremy Hunt.

Mr Knowles said: “I don’t know where people are meant to get cash. I understand both cash machines ran out during the Christmas Fair on Sunday.

“To say 35 people use the branch weekly is nonsense.

“There is always a queue at Nat West. I was eighth in line recently. This is very concerning.

“The two bank closures in Grayshott forced residents to come to Haslemere and the town banks serve a large area from Chiddingfold to Fernhurst.”

Angry Fernhurst resident Peter Dyer (see Letters Page) urged the town to protest: “So after the ‘fat cat bankers’ brought our country down in 2008, they are making us pay again by closing branches and making staff redundant,” he said.

“The effect locally on our shops and those who use the bank every day will be massive. The elderly depend on the bank, as a lifeline. The elderly population is growing and do not like using online banking and need to draw out cash safely.

“The only reason NatWest are closing is to save money. Every time I go into NatWest Haslemere there is a queue. The last time an elderly couple were in the bank very upset due to a fraud on their account.

“Closing our bank is an insult and we must protest. The loyal staff have been a lifeline to many, NatWest Haslemere must stay open.”

State-backed lender Royal Bank of Scotland announced it would be axing its High Street NatWest branch in June, on December 1 – a move condemned as “totally unacceptable” by objectors urging the town to protest.

A total of 197 NatWest branches and 62 under the RBS banner – a quarter of its total network – were axed just four weeks before Christmas, with the loss of 680 jobs.

The closure follows the loss of the town’s Barclays and HSBC branches.

From next June, Lloyds will be the sole representative of the big four in the High Street with a Santander branch in Wey Hill.

The town’s cash machines have reduced from four to two. Meanwhile, Grayshott has suffered the closure of its Nat West and Lloyds branches.

Justifying the latest closures, an RBS spokesman said: “Since 2012 we have seen the way in which people use NatWest Haslemere branch change dramatically, with now 88 per cent of customers already banking in other ways locally.

“Transactions in NatWest Haslemere branch (pictured) have reduced by 29 per cent since 2012 with now only 35 customers visiting the branch on a weekly basis. A total of 64 per cent of customers are now choosing to bank digitally on a regular basis instead.”

Haslemere Chamber of Commerce president David Goddin condemned the decision and its knock-on effects.

He said: “Closure of bank branches is always an inconvenience to those business and private customers who use them. It impacts other businesses, because it reduces town centre footfall.

“It seems also to leave vacancies that are difficult to re-let, which further undermines any perceptions of a busy High Street.

“Unfortunately, we are now paying the price for the convenience of online and ‘machine’ banking.

“Banks are businesses too, and culling branches that serve dwindling numbers of physical customers is a logical business decision.

“At the same time, a reduced footprint in the community may impact a bank’s ability to attract new business.”

Town mayor Malcolm Carter said banks were ignoring the needs of their customers by closing branches.

“Inevitably the banking world continues to change faster than we want to accept,” Mr Carter said.

“While I understand these commercial changes, the banks show little regard for many in our community that cannot change as quickly.

“I do not accept they have answered all the questions as to where businesses bank their cash, and where elderly people who need assistance with banking issues will go.

“I will be writing to our MP and the banks that have been closed to explain how they are going to justify the gaps in their service to our community.”