CONCERNS have been raised about the withdrawal of major services from north Durham’s former steel town.

Residents of Consett recently learned the HSBC branch on Middle Street is to close and the news comes weeks after the Post Office announced plans to shut the Crown branch on Victoria Road.

Last year, the magistrates’ court was closed and Durham County Councillors and North-West Durham MP Pat Glass have expressed concern about the closures.

Councillor Owen Temple said: “This is appalling news. Like the Post Office, HSBC is always busy, and you simply can’t believe that the distant executives who close down our facilities have any idea of, or any concern about, the damage they cause.

“Each closure has a knock on effect, reducing footfall and taking away livelihoods in the town centre.”

Earlier this month, plans to upgrade the Middle Street area were launched with a consultation event.

Ideas so far include the creation of a town clock and the aim is to preserve town centre shopping and the livelihoods of traders.

Meanwhile, the ongoing development of the former steelworks site, which closed in 1980, has generated millions of pounds worth of investment.

Councillor Alex Watson, an advisor to Project Genesis, which is overseeing the regeneration, described the removal of services as a ‘huge concern’.

He said: “Consett is one of the fastest growing towns in the county, if not the region, and it’s not through public monies. It’s all private investment. Clearly these agencies have not done their homework or maybe they just don’t care.”

Councillor Derek Hicks said there were always large queues in the Post Office and closure of the court meant people now had to travel to Peterlee for hearings.

He said: “Given the amount of development going on in our area, I cannot see how they can justify all these closures.”

Pat Glass, MP for North-West Durham, called on the Government to intervene to prevent further cuts to services.

She said: “All this at a time when the Prime Minster Theresa May, once a failed candidate in North-West Durham in 1992, said the North-East would not get left behind.

“Unfortunately, the reality is the gap between her warm words and her Government’s actions is widening by the day.

“There appears to be a real chance of an impending exodus of key services.”