Jonathan Gullis has handed a petition in to Barclays calling on the bank to rethink its planned closure of the Kidsgrove branch at the end of this week.

Barclays is due to close the branch in Kidsgrove on Friday 11th August, but says customers will still be able to visit the Post Office to deposit and withdraw cash.

The bank is also arranging to provide face-to-face services via a 'pop-up bank' at Kidsgrove Sports Centre.

Handing in his petition, Mr Gullis said it was a shame Barclays would no longer have a presence on the high street.

He said: "Kidsgrove is the second largest town in Newcastle borough, a lot of local people as well as local businesses use this branch for the services provided and the ability to have face-to-face interaction with the ladies and gents behind the tills.

"I think it's a real shame we're seeing banks leave our high streets – in particular ones which are so prominent here on the high street.

"Hopefully we can get Barclays to u-turn but it does feel like a losing battle to be perfectly honest."

The petition gained more than 500 signatures but Mr Gullis said he was pessimistic about its chances of success (LDRS).

He said his petition had gained more than 500 signatures, and while he was pessimistic about its chances of success, he said it had already led to a number of conversations with the bank about the future of banking in the town.

He said: "It has now opened a discussion about whether we can have a banking hub here. When that was last assessed it was deemed unnecessary.

"I'm now pushing back as there aren't any cashpoints in the town centre – in Kidsgrove the nearest will be Tesco Bank.

"I hope the sports centre can maybe have a free cashpoint installed by Barclays.

"But it's very concerning that people are feeling cash is slowly being eroded from society and there are a lot of people who don't want that to be the case.

"There are a lot of elderly and vulnerable people who will be very concerned. They're worried about scams online or may not have digital connectivity at all."

He said a lot of customers he'd spoken to were considering moving their account to other banks as a result of the closure.

He said people don't want to be forced to travel to Hanley or Crewe to get a face-to-face service.

Mr Gullis conceded that many people are now moving digital-only banks, such as Monzo and Starling, rather than high street banks – but believes those who wanted the option of physical branches should still have access to them.

He also believes there are some services the banks provide that are more likely to require face-to-face contact.

He said: "If I was to renew my mortgage, I would want to go and speak to someone in a bank branch.

"I wouldn't want to have that interaction over the phone or online because these are complicated things."

Mr Gullis said the building's lease on the building will expire in March 2027, and discussion are now underway regarding its future.

After the branch is closed, the bank's property team will look at options for disposing of the lease.

Mr Gullis thinks there is a possibility the building could be knocked down and transformed into a pedestrian area linking it to the high street.

The plans, as yet unconfirmed, would need to be discussed by Kidsgrove Town Board before being formally drawn up.

Barclays said: "Our customers' behaviour has changed significantly in recent years, with the majority now choosing online banking.

"This is reflected at the Kidsgrove and Newcastle-under-Lyme branches, and as we adapt, we are finding new ways to support our customers by maintaining our community presence with options for customers who still require in-person support.

"In Kidsgrove and Newcastle-under-Lyme, we plan to open a Barclays Local – a pop-up cashless banking site where customers can meet a colleague face-to-face for banking support as they would in a branch and without the need to travel.

"We are currently working with the local community to identify a suitable location and will announce details once confirmed."

TO FIND OUT HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BILLS THIS SUMMER - CLICK THE 'HELP FOR HOUSEHOLDS' BANNER ABOVE THIS ARTICLE. 

READ MORE: Stoke-on-Trent TikTok influencer found guilty of murdering two men in car crash following three-month trial

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.