HAGLEY residents have been dealt a blow with the news that the Lloyds Bank branch, the only bank in the village, will close.

With West Hagley Post Office currently shut for renovation, the village was hit with a further nail in the banking coffin after it was announced that the Worcester Lane branch will be closing on Thursday May 18.

It means residents will be forced to travel to Stourbridge for their nearest bank.

A spokesman for Lloyds Bank said: “We have made the difficult decision to close our West Hagley branch on May 18, 2017.

“This branch has been identified for closure because of the changing way customers choose to bank with us, which has resulted in customers using it less often.

“The majority of customers also now regularly use alternative branches or use other ways to bank such as online and telephone banking to complete their banking needs.

“We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and have informed customers of the closest alternative branch which is Stourbridge.”

Leader of Hagley Parish Council, Cllr Steve Colella, said he is “very concerned” with the decision, adding: “Together with the current lack of a full post office service, this will leave us with no banking facilities at all in the village.

“Many elderly residents rely on this service and they shouldn’t be forced to travel to Stourbridge.”

A petition, addressed to the bank’s regional managing director David Richardson, has been circulating the village and it claims the “short-sighted” move is deliberately alienating long standing customers.

The petition reads: “Far from being a sleepy backwater, Hagley and District is a rapidly expanding and affluent area with four schools, 17 public houses and many restaurants, shops and offices.

“The branch itself is well run and extremely popular.

“The car park is an unusual and excellent asset providing secure free parking for all including the elderly, infirm and cash carrying clients.

“When the bank appears to be spending large sums on advertising to attract new customers it seems a short-sighted decision to deliberately alienate long standing clients with a history of loyalty to Lloyds Bank.”