FEARS are growing the Barclays Bank branch on Burnham High Street will close with the company now failing to guarantee its future.

Between July and September the previous guarantee has been dropped and residents have raised fears with Burnham Town Council.

The issue was brought up during public questions, with residents concerned the reduction in opening hours introduced in July was the first step to closing the branch.

This is a pattern which has been seen elsewhere in Essex, such as Halstead.

In July, it was announced the branch would no longer open on Thursdays due to a lack of customers.

It followed an announcement in 2014 it would no longer open on Wednesdays.

It has meant, since July 24, the branch has only been open three days a week.

At the time of the announcement Barclays were quick to ease fears by assuring residents the branch wouldn’t close.

Jon Clowes, the community banking director for Essex, said: “We are committed to delivering a service that is shaped around what our customers want, offering them choice and flexibility, which is why the Burnham-onCrouch branch will remain open.”

That assurance from the company is no longer in place.

In his latest response Mr Clowes said: “In order to stay relevant and competitive to our customers, we will continue to evolve the shape and size of our branch network, as well as improving and investing in the experience in branch.

“We also provide out customers, including businesses, with a range of digital channels to provide them with a choice of how they bank with us.

“The number of physical Barclays branches will reduce overall but our branch network and the colleagues who work in them remain a vital part of our offering.

“With customers visiting branches less and less each year, we must constantly assess how and why our branches are used and make decisions based on that insight.”

Responding to the concerns, Councillor Peter Elliott said: “We would all like sit here and say we can guarantee the bank will stay exactly where it is and there will be no more closures, but sadly it is not something the council has any control over.

“Unfortunately, it is completely out of our hands.”

Councillor Wendy Stamp said: “This is not good for the town, we have a great deal of elderly residents, not many of whom have access to internet banking, people need to be able to see representatives in person who aren’t as familiar with the new online banking methods.”

Burnham resident, Matt Andrews, said: “People were misled into believing the closure at Southminster was not going to be that bad as there would still be a branch open in Burnham and this is what happens a couple of years later.

“There is nothing like being able to talk to someone face-toface when you are looking at new services or need to make a decision.”