A PETITION has been launched against the closure of the Studley branch of HSBC in Alcester Road.

The petition, started by resident Franziska Empl Buchanan, says that HSBC will close its Studley branch in April and urges local residents to get involved and fight the controversial plans.

It was confirmed last week that the branch will shut on Friday, April 16, with all three staff being transferred to nearby branches.

A spokesman for HSBC said the branch has been declining in recent years, with 81 per cent of contact the bank has with its customers being over the phone.

“We never take the decision to close a branch lightly, and we understand it’s unsettling for the local community," they added.

The petition says: "We believe it is vital to keep services in our village. The bank provides important services to individual customers and businesses in the local area. The staff are friendly and helpful, and often go beyond the call of duty to assist customers.

"We also believe that losing a well-known global brand could make other businesses lose confidence in trading in Studley, leading to a decline in the overall services available locally."

Parish Councillor Karen Somner-Brown stressed that Studley needs its branch.

"HSBC advertises itself as The world’s local bank, perhaps they should think about that before they close the Studley branch at great inconvenience to their customers many of whom have been loyal to them for many decades," she said.

"It's very convenient for local people, many of whom don’t drive or are elderly or disabled.

"The bus service to Redditch is costly and unreliable and even if you did drive there is very little free parking in Redditch. Therefore, the closure of the branch is going to end up costing quite a bit for the people of Studley whichever mode of transport they use."

She added: "The closure could be disastrous to small businesses who would have extra costs to endure in travelling to Redditch but could also lose trade because customers travelling to Redditch to do their banking may well choose to spend their money there instead of in Studley."

To view the petition, click here.