BANKING chiefs have been urged 'not to turn their back on Portland' in a new effort to save the island's only bank.

The Weymouth and Portland Access Group – which campaigns on access issues for people with disabilities, the elderly, and for those caring for young children – has added its weight to the calls to keep the Easton Square branch of Lloyds Bank open.

As reported in the Echo, the branch – the last remaining bank on the island – is set to close its doors on July 3, after a review which claimed the bank only has 24 weekly customers. It is one of 100 Lloyds branches to close nationwide.

The decision has been met with a backlash from residents, councillors and politicians with fears the elderly will suffer the most.

Campaigners say the branch, which they describe as a 'community hub', is used by businesses and residents, some of whom will find it difficult to travel to Weymouth to carry out transactions.

Now access group president Mike Kelly has urged Lloyds 'not to turn its back' on Portland.

In a letter to banking chiefs he said: "Your Easton branch benefits from an ideal location close to shops, and on the bus route which connects it to the other main settlements of Fortuneswell, Chiswell, Weston and Southwell, as well to the southern part of Weymouth, as well as being on the community bus route which serves other settlements on Portland.

"Closure of the bank will cause considerable inconvenience to many of your customers and this adverse effect will be particularly suffered by elderly and disabled residents, and to people without their own transport, in a relatively remote area of the country."

Mr Kelly points out that as well as the island population of about 13,000, Portland which is at the centre of the World Heritage Coast receives a very large number of tourists for various activities, and this is expected to grow with new and emerging visitor attractions.

He adds in his letter: "Surely this is not the time for Lloyds Bank to turn its back on Portland, but to keep your advantage by remaining its only bank branch."

A SPOKESMAN for Lloyds Bank said: “We have previously announced our plans to close the Lloyds Bank, Portland Branch on July 3, 2017.

“We do not take the decision to close any branch lightly and do so after first considering a range of factors, such as regular usage and access to alternatives branches and other ways to bank. Careful analysis of Portland branch showed that the number of people using the branch was reducing, with the majority of personal customers already using other branches and other ways to bank, such as online and telephone banking.

“Since announcing our decision to close, we have been proactively discussing alternative ways to bank with our customers, including services the Post Office offers. We understand that this may come as a disappointment to the local community and apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause. Customers have been informed of the closest alternative branch to them, which is Weymouth.”