Sadly there has been no last minute change of heart by HSBC about their controversial decision to close their Earlsdon Street branch.

As ECHO went to press the bank was due to close on 31 January and the staff had been allocated to other branches in the area.

Customers had reacted angrily to the closure plans and a petition calling for the branch to be retained was signed by over 600 people. They said that the bank has been well used and that closure makes a mockery of HSBC styling themselves as the “world’s local bank”. They also feel that HSBC is undermining the community and particularly the viability of Earlsdon Street as a shopping centre.  Customers were supported by Earlsdon Ward councillors who in turn received unanimous backing from the full council to endorse and forward the petition to bosses at HSBC.