Barclays has asked a town council if it can lease a room so it to keep its presence in the town following news it is closing its branch in Beccles.

The banking giant is closing its Beccles branch on November 24, prompting concerns in the town that elderly people and market traders are being neglected.

The announcement of Barclays closing came two months after HSBC closed its branch in the town, much to the disappointment of many.

Beccles Town Council had been working with the Waveney MP Peter Aldous and East Suffolk Council to try and find a solution to Barclays closing.

A fresh development has emerged following a town council meeting on Tuesday evening (September 5).

Councillors heard Barclays representatives had approached Beccles Town Council over the availability to let a room from it to operate in the town.

Councillors felt as though they did not have enough information to make a decision on Barclays' offer at this stage, and have requested more details.

It is hoped Barclays will have replied by the time of the council's next meeting.

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Beccles & Bungay Journal: Beccles mayor, Christine WheelerBeccles mayor, Christine Wheeler (Image: Submitted)

Beccles town mayor, Christine Wheeler, said: "The council is not very happy that Barclays is closing, as this leaves us with just Lloyds, Nationwide, and the Post Office. 

“It makes things difficult for the elderly population in the town who do still visit the branch, the less tech-savvy, and generally all traders in the town, who need to pay in cash, such as market traders on a Friday.

"But we are going to work with Barclays to learn more about their offer and discuss it again at our next meeting. 

"This is because we welcome their presence in the town and on our high street, and are disappointed they are leaving us."

In a Barclays' statement, it had published research justifying the closure of the Beccles branch.

It said that "19 customers use this branch regularly as the only way to do their banking" and "19pc of this branch’s customers have used nearby branches in the last 12 months".

Beccles & Bungay Journal: External shot of the Barclays branch in BecclesExternal shot of the Barclays branch in Beccles (Image: Google)