BANK customers in Partington learned the town’s last surviving high street branch has been given an eleventh hour reprieve - but only until next summer.
Royal Bank of Scotland bosses made an announcement that the branch in the town’s shopping centre would not now close next month as was planned.
A company spokesman said the U-turn was made after it became clear redevelopment of Partington shopping centre would not take place until next year, securing the premises.
Last month Positive Partington handed in a 1,500 strong signature petition to bank bosses calling for the branch to be spared.
More than 1,500 campaigners have reason to celebrate after hearing their only bank could be here to stay.
The battle to save The Royal Bank of Scotland’s Partington branch began when residents were told it would shut this July to make way for Peel Holdings’ redevelopment of the shopping precinct.
But RBS’s regional director for Greater Manchester, Tony Longden, said this week: "We have now received confirmation from our landlords that our lease can be extended and we will now be able to stay in Partington until June 2011.
"We will be contacting customers shortly to let them know about the changes."
More than 1,500 people signed a petition against the closure led by residents’ group Positive Partington.
Chairman Graham Kanes said: "The message to the people of Partington is: ‘Together, we can do something about what is happening in our community’.
Conservative Leader of Trafford Council Cllr Matthew Colledge said: "Trafford Council, Positive Partington and Peel Holdings have worked together for the good of the community to keep RBS here a while longer. "We will now be working to use this time to put a good case to RBS to remain in Partington indefinitely."
Updated Monday 21 June 2010