PLANS to ‘decommission’ Barclays bank ahead of its closure next month have been submitted to the borough council.

Barclays announced in January that it would close its Andover branch on Friday, May 17, and now permission is being sought to remove existing external signage and branding, along with the external ATM, a CCTV camera, heritage sign and redundant letter box’s metal plate.

The banking giant also wants seal its existing night safe internally, along with removing internal counters, all internal furniture and some modern glazing walls and glazing doors on ground floor meeting room and first floor meeting rooms. 

READ MORE: Barclays bank on Andover High Street to close in May

The application states: “The building has been a Barclays Bank for a number of years, serving the local community during this time. This building is in a prominent central location alongside other businesses and financial institutions within an established town centre community.”

Barclays citied modern ways of banking such as online or telephone as the reason for the bank’s closure.

SEE ALSO: Andover responds to Barclay's cashless bank plans after closure

According to the planning application: “The original building fabric will not be altered, removed or concealed. All existing original features will not be affected by the proposed works.

“The proposed works are intended to return the building to pre-Barclays occupation as much as it is possible, preserving the listed building status.”

Following the closure, Barclays has said it will open a Barclays Local, a site where customers can meet a colleague face-to-face for banking support as they would in a branch.

Barclays Local is a flexible community presence in places such as town halls and libraries, mobile vans and banking pods.

NatWest has also announced that it will shut its doors on August 28 and Halifax will close on July 25.