BARCLAYS in Burnham-on-Sea is set to close its doors this Autumn after the banking giant revealed just 179 people have used the branch in the last year.

The company announced its Victoria Street branch will close on October 19 after 74 per cent of customers now use other methods to do their banking, such as online and by telephone.

Richard Stockland, community banking director for Barclays Bristol, Somerset and Wiltshire, said: “The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices.

“At Barclays’ Burnham-on-Sea branch, customer usage has continued to decline and additionally 74 per cent of our branch customers are also using other ways to do their banking such as online and by telephone. We have also identified that we have only 179 customers who solely use the counter to undertake their banking, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close the branch.

“We hope that the availability of our nearest Barclays branches at 16 High Street, Bridgwater, and 26/30 Regent Street, Weston-super-Mare, access to services at any local Post Office, including 6 Victoria Street, Burnham-on-Sea, along with our range of digital channels, will help to ease the transition for our customers.”

The branch is the latest in a string of Burnham-on-Sea banks to close in the last two years after HSBC and NatWest branches in the town both shut for the last time in 2017. A spokesman for Burnham Chamber of Trade described Barclays’ closure as another ‘blow’ for the town.

“The Chamber is extremely disappointed by this news after previous bank closures in Burnham,” the spokesman said.

“While accepting that banking trends are changing, face to face access to financial services for businesses and consumers remains highly important at a local level.

“We hope Barclays will reconsider this decision and we would call on Nationwide and Lloyds to affirm their commitment to having branches in Burnham.”

Tatiana Cant, clerk and press officer for Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, said the council has suggested Barclays consider providing a mobile banking service for residents.

She said: “The town council is extremely disappointed that another banking facility in the town is being removed and this will provide considerable inconvenience to local residents and businesses. Many customers moved to Barclays from NatWest when their branch closed and this closure amounts to causing more disadvantage to the community.”