Second meeting called over Barnard Castle Barclays closure

The national bank confirmed in July that it would be closing the town’s Market Place branch on September 11, months ahead of the initially announced date of January 17, 2025.  

The decision left councillors “utterly dismayed” - arguing that it made things “virtually impossible” to set up a banking hub in the town. 

This will be the second public meeting regarding Barclays’ closure, with the first taking place in February after the firm announced the branch was to close "on or before" the January date.

The Banking Hub working party of three local councillors, county councillors Richard Bell and Ted Henderson and town councillor Chris Foote-Wood, was set up at this meeting. 

Barclays is set to close its Barnard Castle branch (left) and Cllrs Chris Foote-Wood, Richard Bell, and Ted Henderson (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO / SARAH CALDECOTT / DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL)

Now, councillors and the public will discuss the next steps at the  Witham Community Arts Centre on September 5 at 7 pm, just days before the shutters come down on the branch.

It comes as the bank prepares to launch its new Barclays Local service on Monday, September 16, at the Council Offices, Woodleigh, Flatts Road, where services available include financial reviews, balance requests, and ability to open new accounts. 

However, the site will be cashless, with everyday transactions needing to be completed at the local Post Office. 

The notice of the meeting says: "For the future, Barclays has offered a one day a week 'cashless banking site' in the town with face-to-face meetings for their customers. 

“We need to know if people think this is sufficient, or whether we should carry on with our campaign for a five day a week Banking Hub with full facilities involving five major banks including Barclays.

"Either way, we will continue to work for a 24-hour ATM cash machine as the one at Barclays, the only one in Teesdale, will be removed when the branch closes.”

Barclays now plans to open a Barclays Local, a cashless site where people can meet colleagues face-to-face for banking support, as seen in many other towns to lose their branch. 

The decision came after the bank confirmed just 28 customers used the site regularly as the only way to do their banking. 

As previously reported, The Northern Echo understands that Barnard Castle is too small based on criteria to be recommended as a standalone hub and that it has been recommended as a deposit service to support small businesses. 

A Barclays spokesperson said: “Barclays is committed to deploying a range of more flexible ways that customers can physically interact with the bank, this includes over 350 pop-up banking sites located in town centres, with a presence in spaces such as community centres, libraries and business hubs where it offers drop in and pre-booked appointments.

“We’re delighted we’re able to launch the replace banking service in Barnard Castle. This represents our commitment to customers and the local community who wish to continue to have an in-person banking presence by offering the ability to visit Barclays on their local high street, albeit in a different environment.”

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Chris Ashton, Chief Commercial Officer at LINK, previously said: “The Post Office continues to play an important role on the high street. 

“The addition of a dedicated counter for banking customers paid for by the banks will help it support more customers on a day-to-day basis."

Colleagues will be available at the new Barclays Local on Mondays from 10am until 12.30pm and then from 1pm to 4pm.