WIVELISCOMBE residents have started a petition against the closure of the town’s NatWest Bank.

The County Gazette reported how the bank said it would be closing in November.

A spokesperson said this was down to a 20% decrease in transactions at the branch over the past few years.

But Heather Harvey, who has set up a petition asking for NatWest to re-think their decision, said the branch is always busy.

Heather, who runs The Bear Inn, said: “The staff are wonderful and I am not criticising them or the bank, but they have gone ahead without consulting us. In 2010, they promised that they would not close any bank which was the last in town – they have gone back on that promise.”

About 300 people have so far signed Heather’s petition. “I just don’t think they realise how detrimental this will be to the town,” Heather added. “Once all the banks are gone, it won’t be long until businesses start disappearing too. We want them to start telling the truth and rethink what they’re doing.”

Taunton Deane MP Jeremy Browne has written to the chief executive of NatWest/RBS complaining about the proposed closure.

He said: “Wiveliscombe is a successful hub of activity. It is a centre in its own right and people from neighbouring villages are attracted into the town.

“Keeping the only bank in Wiveliscombe is important for the future of the town. It is convenient for local residents and businesses but it also helps to maintain Wiveliscombe’s status as a community centre.

“I am very supportive of the campaign by local residents to persuade NatWest to think again. The NatWest in Wiveliscombe can certainly be commercially viable and its presence also helps the retailers in the town.

“I have written to the chief executive of NatWest/RBS calling on him to halt the Wiveliscombe branch closure. I hope he will be open-minded about maintaining and developing a successful branch in Wiveliscombe.”

A NatWest spokesman said the “difficult” decision to close the branch had been taken due to a 20% drop in transactions in recent years, caused mainly by the growth of mobile and online banking.

The spokesman added: “The branch is only open for 11 hours a week and only has 35 customers who visit it on a weekly basis.”