BUSINESSES have declared war on plans to close Hadleigh's last remaining bank and are urging bosses to reverse the decision.

Donna Bennett-Blois, owner of Natural Bake, in London Road, has set up a petition to try and save the nearby Lloyds branch from closure.

Lloyds Banking Group is planning to shut the branch in September following a drop in usage.

Residents have been told they will be able to access some services from the town's Post Office, but Donna insists the proposal won't work for businesses.

She said: “Losing the bank is horrific news for Hadleigh.

“The businesses here rely on the bank for their banking and change, as well as it being used by many locals.

“Our residents use the bank regularly, with many finding online banking confusing, and needing reassurance from speaking to someone face-to-face.

“There is a post office nearby, but they can’t and will not cope with the pressure of taking on the extra services.

“The queues as it stands for the post office are very long.

“We really want to make a stand as a community with this petition, to see if we can reverse the decision of Lloyds to keep our one and only bank.”

Justina Morrell, owner of Heartfelt Balloons in High Street, added the Lloyds closure will make it even tougher for businesses trying to stay afloat after the pandemic.

She said: "It literally ruins everything.

"We are left with no other option, banks bring people into Hadleigh and the High Street, and so it is less customers for businesses and the high street.

"We are trying our hardest to keep the high street alive, and this is another thing that is going to kill it.

"We hope the petition will show how much this bank means, and how vital it is.

“I need this bank, we all need this bank."

A spokesman for The Barbers Chair, in London Road, added: “We have spoken to other shops about Lloyds closing, and there is now a petition that the people of Hadleigh have been signing to keep it open for us and them.

“The closure would directly affect our business as we use it for change, and our customers use it for our services as well.”