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MP criticises closure of Bridgwater NatWest branch

PA Media Image of a street bank sign for NatWest on the side of a brick buildingPA Media
The Bridgwater branch of NatWest is due to close on 27 October

An MP has said he is "deeply disappointed" by NatWest's decision to close its bank branch in a Somerset town.

Ashley Fox, the Conservative MP for Bridgwater, said the move not only "risks excluding" vulnerable residents but will impact the number of shoppers on the high street.

NatWest said over the last five years counter transactions have dropped by nearly 65% in the town as more customers "than ever before" switch to digital banking.

The Bridgwater branch is due to close on 27 October, along with branches in Midsomer Norton and Portishead.

Headshot image of a man with facial tattoos and facial piercings, wearing a denim jacket and a shell necklace standing on a street
Scott Thomas, said the Bridgwater NatWest bank has been his bank for his "whole life" and closing it was "disgusting"

Scott Thomas, who has been banking at NatWest since he was a teenager, said closing the branch was "disgusting".

"This bank has been my bank for my whole life - I do my business banking with NatWest, they've always been so helpful and now what am I going to do?," he said.

"Without NatWest, I wouldn't have been able to set that [business ] up. I'm dyslexic and have ADHD. They sat there with me, done it with me, helped me and now to be told I have to do something online with no help, it's absolutely ridiculous."

Headshot image of a woman with blond shoulder length hair, wearing glasses and a purple cardigan standing on a street
Madeleine Vann, said she likes going into the Bridgwater branch to "see a human"

Madeleine Vann, said the closure was "sad".

"It's all computers now and you're not dealing with a human being now, are you":[]}