Town traders fear imminent bank closure could deal a 'devastating' blow to footfall

LLOYDS HAS BEEN IN SWADLINCOTE FOR DECADES - BUT SET TO SHUT NEXT MONTH

- By OSCAR FISHER

AN 'old-fashioned' high street where some traders still deal with cash could be on the brink of a drop-off in footfall.

That's what some traders in Swadlincote's High Street have said as they grow closer to bidding farewell to their local Lloyds Bank, which is set to close permanently on January 20.

Lloyds says this is because most customers prefer to use mobile banking or other virtual methods - and the decision comes less than a year after the nearby Santander branch, also on High Street, closed its doors.

Leanne Mace opened her gifts and homeware store, Curly Magpie, on the high street more than a decade ago, before moving to a new premises across the road earlier this year.

She fears that going from two banks on the street to zero in less than a year could have a serious effect on footfall in the area, particularly for the shops that operate on a cash-only basis.

"We've already lost the Santander, which was just up the road, and now Lloyds have announced that they're going in January," said Leanne.

"So it's a pretty quick change and it's a big shock for everybody. I've had the business next door to it for 10 years and now we are opposite, so the bank has been a big part of our trading life.