There will be outrage in Rhuthun/Ruthin at the news today that Westminster government-owned National Westminster is to close its branch in town, next June. Not since the TSB closed will there be such uproar. I'll leave it up to others to bemoan how this or that it will affect "the elderly" and others (as they did regarding the TSB).
But there are nonetheless some serious implications:
1. Banks draw people to town centres. Or, they did. In the age of telephone and internet banking, bank buildings seem to be of less relevance these days, so much so that NatWest has closed in Denbigh, Corwen (in 2015—and the HSBC there closed in 2012) and Llanelwy/St Asaph (and the HSBC closed in Cerrigydrudion in November 2015). The NatWest says that between 2010 and 2015, the numbers using the branch have fallen by 11 per cent. There will no longer be a NatWest branch at all in the Dyffryn Clwyd/Vale. Customers from nearby towns expecting a National Westminster branch in Rhuthun will now probably no longer come to shop here or will do so less frequently.
2. What do you do with a building such as this? And one so prominent in a conservation area? It lends itself to a bank and although in its history it has been at least in part a shop, the alternations necessary for a modern shop-front would be difficult and would never be countenanced by planners, given the building's position and status. It might make a rather nice restaurant/pub if only people could afford to eat out more. We may not need another one of these but it's better than being empty. What about a museum? There was a half-hearted plan to use the Star public house for this. We cannot be anything other than pessimistic over the building's future. Or a permanent tourist information centre?
3. The NatWest has a valuable store of documents relating to its refurbishment which no doubt will disappear to the nearest current available branch, currently Mold.
So, what happens next? I would urge all current NatWest customers to swap to the town's two remaining banks, Barclay's and HSBC. That way, we can at least try to safeguard what we have. When Santander announced in February 2014 the closure of its agency network—which affected Rhuthun's office on Well Street—the NatWest was quick to print leaflets suggesting that people swap to the Rhuthun bank. Let's take a cue from that and, this time, move away from the NatWest.
As it deserts North Wales, here's the complete NatWest list:
Closed in September 2015 were NatWest branches at Dinbych, Llanelwy/St Asaph, Corwen, Llangollen, Abergele, Rhos-on-Sea, Rossett, Buckley, Abersoch, Blaenau Ffestiniog & Tywyn
To close next spring/summer: Rhuthun, Prestatyn, Treffynnon/Holywell, Conwy, Porthmadog, Caernarfon, Amlwch, Menai Bridge and Caergybi/Holyhead
If it's any consolation at all, the NatWest changes mean that Treffynnon will henceforward be bereft of banks. You might expect that in Corwen, but not in a town of nearly double Rhuthun's population.
The NatWest gave its Rhuthun premises a paint-up over the summer... now we know why... to make it more marketable
But there are nonetheless some serious implications:
1. Banks draw people to town centres. Or, they did. In the age of telephone and internet banking, bank buildings seem to be of less relevance these days, so much so that NatWest has closed in Denbigh, Corwen (in 2015—and the HSBC there closed in 2012) and Llanelwy/St Asaph (and the HSBC closed in Cerrigydrudion in November 2015). The NatWest says that between 2010 and 2015, the numbers using the branch have fallen by 11 per cent. There will no longer be a NatWest branch at all in the Dyffryn Clwyd/Vale. Customers from nearby towns expecting a National Westminster branch in Rhuthun will now probably no longer come to shop here or will do so less frequently.
2. What do you do with a building such as this? And one so prominent in a conservation area? It lends itself to a bank and although in its history it has been at least in part a shop, the alternations necessary for a modern shop-front would be difficult and would never be countenanced by planners, given the building's position and status. It might make a rather nice restaurant/pub if only people could afford to eat out more. We may not need another one of these but it's better than being empty. What about a museum? There was a half-hearted plan to use the Star public house for this. We cannot be anything other than pessimistic over the building's future. Or a permanent tourist information centre?
3. The NatWest has a valuable store of documents relating to its refurbishment which no doubt will disappear to the nearest current available branch, currently Mold.
NNatWest comes to the Vale sporadically by van, seen here at the Tweedmill car park
At least its closure might help safeguard the post office: NatWest costumers henceforward may use the post office to deposit and withdraw funds.
As it deserts North Wales, here's the complete NatWest list:
Closed in September 2015 were NatWest branches at Dinbych, Llanelwy/St Asaph, Corwen, Llangollen, Abergele, Rhos-on-Sea, Rossett, Buckley, Abersoch, Blaenau Ffestiniog & Tywyn
To close next spring/summer: Rhuthun, Prestatyn, Treffynnon/Holywell, Conwy, Porthmadog, Caernarfon, Amlwch, Menai Bridge and Caergybi/Holyhead
If it's any consolation at all, the NatWest changes mean that Treffynnon will henceforward be bereft of banks. You might expect that in Corwen, but not in a town of nearly double Rhuthun's population.