Bank commits to staying in Ledbury

A bank has committed to staying in a Herefordshire town following a wave of closures of high street branches in the county.

TSB has put forward plans to refresh its Ledbury branch in the Homend, within the town’s main conservation area. As the 18th-century building is grade II listed ,the bank must get listed building consent the work.

Its application for this (number 243014) says that as part of a “refurbishment roll out” of all its branches, it wants to replace the main fascia board above the premises and also the projecting sign.

The new “canister logo” sign above the front door would be illuminated, though the projecting sign would not be.

The exterior would also be cleaned, the main door frame sanded and repainted, and any necessary repairs carried out under the proposal.

There will also be “minimal” changes to the branch’s interior, which will be given a “light refresh”, including repainting and reflooring the main banking hall and meeting rooms.

Comments on the application can be made until February 13/

The TSB is the town’s last remaining bank following the closure of the Barclays branch opposite in 2022.

Bromyard also lost its last bank in 2022 with the closure of its Lloyds branch, while HSBC closed branches in Ross-on-Wye and Leominster in 2023, and Ross also lost its Lloyds last year.