People in Kirkby-in-Ashfield are waiting in anticipation to see what happens to what was the town's last bank. The Lloyds branch in Station Street closed earlier this year, despite a local MP objecting to the move.
People in the town, which is now without a bank, branded the closure 'pathetic', with Lloyds confirming the branch was one of 48 to shut this year. Local businesses are keen to know what's likely to replace the bank.
Sam Gulduren, manager of The Posh Meze Bar and Grill in Ellis Street, said: "Everybody is waiting in anticipation to see what it's going to be because there's a lot of rumours going about that it's going to be this, that, and the other so we're just going to wait and see. Since I've been a little girl, it's always been a bank. If you want to go to the bank now you have to travel to Sutton and go to the branch there."
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The building housing the former bank is currently on the market as a retail unit to let, with a guide price of £16,500 per annum. Whilst property consultants marketing the site say it is suitable for a variety of uses, other businesses and residents say that they would like to see a bank return to the town.
Quinton Adams, co-owner of Kirkby Gold Centre which is located opposite the former bank, said: "There were three banks here some years ago and now there's none. You have to go to Hucknall if you're working in Kirkby, it's just a pain.
"Not to have any bank here is ridiculous. I don't believe what the banks are saying, which is that not enough people support them. They don't have to have 10 people working in them they can have two or three, it's crazy, just crazy. I'd certainly like to see a bank here, it doesn't help anyone at all not having one."
Alison Braddow, manageress of The Tanning Centre in Station Street, said: "Obviously people do miss it as it was the only bank that was left in Kirkby. I feel sorry for the elderly as they have to walk up to Morrisons now or go to the post office on Kingsway."
She said the nearest bank was in Sutton-in-Ashfield. "Mine personally is in Mansfield. It is quite a trek and for the elderly it is a bit bad as they are not really up on technology and that, so you know it is a bit hard for them."
Lloyds said the decision to close the Kirkby branch was due "to the changing ways customers choose to bank with us, which means the branch is being used less often".
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