‘Save the last bank in Featherstone - don’t let it become a ghost town’

Almost 300 people have signed a petition against Yorkshire Bank’s proposal to close its Station Lane branch.

The company announced its plans as part of its interim half-year results statement earlier this month.

Helen Dawson, who has set up the petition, said: “It would become very difficult for the elderly and disabled who don’t have cars to have to find extra money to pay for public transport to reach nearby towns to complete transactions.

“There would also be additional issues with the extended queues at the Pontefract and Castleford branches with people from our town having to use those facilities.

“For the people unable to travel, they would have the basic need of access to a bank account taken from them completely as this is the last remaining bank in Featherstone.”

Mrs Dawson set up an online petition calling on the bank’s owners National Australia Bank not to close the Featherstone branch.

It has so far received 290 signatures from people in the town.

Mrs Dawson said: “We want people to help show that we aren’t going to let Featherstone become a ghost town.

“Please sign and share this petition.

“If we win it will be great for the town to keep a well needed and used service, if we lose it will be a major loss to our town for everyone.”

Featherstone councillor Graham Isherwood and MP Jon Trickett have both sent letters of objection to the bank.

Coun Isherwood said: “This is not just the only bank in Featherstone - it is the only bank in the whole of my district council ward and that includes Sharlston, North Featherstone and Streethouse.

“This could have a massive effect on people in the town.”

A Yorkshire Bank spokesman said: “None of these decisions have been taken lightly - they are all under-performing branches, in terms of footfall and business.

“There is no impact on jobs, we will redeploy staff to other locations.” The spokesman said the Featherstone branch was one of 19 bank branches the company plans to close.

Others include in Driffield, East Yorkshire, in Elland and in Barnsley. The spokesman said Yorkshire Bank planned to refurbish 18 branches and create a large one in Leeds.

To view the petition visit www.change.org/p/national-australia-bank-please-change-the-decision-to-close-the-featherstone-branch-of-the-yorkshire-bank.