A local business owner has spoken out in frustration after the announcement of another bank closure on Ascot high street.

Stephen Donovan, owner of Wentworth Patisserie in Virginia Water has been part of the successful business community in the area for 25 years.

Recent news of the imminent closure of Barclay’s bank on Ascot High Street has caused uproar amongst residents and local businesses that regularly use its services.

Stephen said: “The loss of this bank in Ascot is absolutely ridiculous. According to Barclay’s they are closing because it isn’t busy enough, however that has not been my experience.

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“I have sometimes had to wait in a two-hour queue because of the lack of staff with only one counter open.

“They claim on their website to support the community with their banking however from what I see they are abandoning every business and resident who needs to visit the bank for a particular reason.”

Due to the nature of his business, Stephen visits the local bank frequently. The closure of this branch will mean that him and other residents will have to travel to Bracknell or Windsor.

Mr Donovan explained: “We visit the bank twice a week to pay in cash and get change. Our Patisserie/Bakery/Sandwich shop still takes a lot of cash, and we need to be able to get change regularly.

“This closure will mean more time away from our busy business and more money for parking in the town centres.

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“The bank has been really badly managed for the last few years and many other customers I meet are angry about the closure. They have tried to force people to use their machines which are not fit for purpose, and they only have one person on the counter resulting in long queues.”

When the Ascot branch closes on November 13, there will be no physical banks left on the high street which is said to be a ‘kick in the teeth’ for both the community and local businesses.

“Barclays made £1.5 billion profit last year yet they are abandoning its local customers and treating us with contempt.”

The News contacted Barclay’s for a comment on the matter of the branch closure and customer reactions.

A Barclays spokesperson said: “The decision to close a branch is never an easy one. However, customers are increasingly using alternatives to branches to do their banking and, as a result, we are seeing a sustained fall in branch visits across the UK.

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“This is reflected at our Ascot branch, where we’ve seen a 54 per cent reduction in counter transactions in the last 12 months, when compared to March 2020. 

"In addition, 92 per cent of customers who visit the branch are also using different ways to bank and only seven regular customers use the branch exclusively for their banking.

“We will work with our customers and provide alternative options to ensure they can continue to manage their money and receive financial expertise when required.

"This includes working with the local community to find different, more flexible ways for our colleagues to continue to provide local banking support, such as through pop-up presences.”