The impending closure of one of the few remaining bank branches on a city high street has sparked anger.

Lloyds Banking Group plans to close another 55 bank branches, including in Shirley.

The latest batch of closures are slated to begin in the new year.

Only Nationwide would remain if the plans go ahead.

(Image: Newsquest) Julia Horton has lived in Shirley for 35 years and has always used the Lloyds branch.

She is concerned about its disappearance from the high street, saying she is "very upset".

Julia said: “Even sitting here now inside the branch you can see all the people constantly coming in and out. There was a queue to get in on Monday.

“These banks are not thinking about ordinary people.”

Pete Gallagher, owner of Make it Magic, is concerned about the impact the closure will have on the high street.

Pete Gallagher, owner of Make it MagicPete Gallagher, owner of Make it Magic (Image: Newsquest) The 52-year-old said: “This is going to cause more queues at the Post Office as people will go there to take out cash.

“The closure is a sign of the demise of cash, but because of that people are even more determined to use it.

“It is a shame Lloyds did not decide to invest in the high street.”

READ MORE: Three businesses that closed down in September

Resident Jim Farmer, 82, has been with Lloyds Bank for 61 years and used the Shirley branch for 37.

He said: “I am not happy about it at all.

“I live in Shirley so the closure will be inconvenient for me. I am not convinced to turn digital, not at my age.”

Fellow resident and Shirley stalwart Tony Weafer is angered by the plans.

Tony Weafer outside Lloyds in ShirleyTony Weafer outside Lloyds in Shirley (Image: Newsquest) The 72-year-old said: “It feels wrong that the state is removing services like this without checking with the public first.

“There are many small businesses in the area who use banks, and a lot of them have said they will not know what to do when Lloyds closes.”

A specific closure date of the Shirley branch is to be confirmed.

The nationwide closures mean that Lloyds will have shut 292 branches in the two years between January 2024 and December 2025 in a bid to cut costs.