Mayor of Whitland, Clr. Con Harries, JP, has fired a broadside at a national bank this week over proposals to close their branch in the town. "HSBC who have the audacity to call and advertise themselves as the 'world's local bank' is contemplating closing their Whitland branch on February 3, 2006," Clr. Harries told the Observer. In a letter to us, Clr. Harries continued: "Their main reason is due to falling number of customers, but what do they expect when they are only open three days a week when they should be open five days," he continued. "Whitland is an up-and-coming town. At the present time, we have three new commercial businesses about to open in our town, and also in the very foreseeable future, a new NHS dental surgery is contemplating opening in Whitland. "This at the moment is subject to planning permission. This NHS dentistry will accommodate patients from as far afield as Pembroke and, with what we understand five dentists, will be treating quite a number of patients a day. "We also have a comprehensive school with up to very nearly 1,400 pupils. Does the hierarchy of HSBC realise that these youngsters are their potential customers. "We have over 100 houses in the planning and construction stages in our town. This will most certainly increase the bank's business. "HSBC does not seem to have made any evaluation of what is happening in Whitland. "The body now responsible for the old creamery site will very shortly explain to the town council, the residents committees and the inhabitants of Whitland what they intend doing with the site. Already, a number of people are employed there, but it is hoped that with what is contemplated, this will create much more employment in our town." Clr. Harries was also concerned about the impact on holidaymakers to the area. He said: "The main railway line with its station in the centre of the town brings quite a large number of people here, and these trains run from London to Fishguard and Tenby and allow travellers, especially in the holiday season, to stop in our town and await their transport to outlying areas. "The facilities of the cash machine and the banking services are used by these travellers, and with the courteous manner that our present staff at HSBC in Whitland assist these people and of course the local people, it would be a disaster to close this branch. "I also point out that there is no transport service from Whitland to Narberth, and also there is not too much parking space in Narberth. How is it expected that the aged and the infirm can transfer to another town where the facilities are not a viable option. Clr. Harries added: "Our town is the gateway to the Pembrokeshire National Park and also is equal distance from Haverfordwest and Carmarthen. "Surely, the service to customers should be of paramount importance and not closure of a small branch which due to their own fault has not enough customers. "If management feels that an organisation does not pay, surely if they are competent they should endeavour to find ways to make it pay. "If HSBC has not made any of these observations, surely its time they did, and then they can justifiably say that they are the 'world's local bank'." The Observer contacted HSBC about their proposals for the Whitland branch, but at the time of going to press, no reply had been received.