PLANS to change a bank into a shop have been submitted to Colchester Council.

A proposal has been made to turn the old Barclays bank in Prettygate into a convenience store, with proposed opening hours of 7am until 11pm every evening including Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The bank closed its doors back in 2018 with bosses at the time saying it was due to a change in the way people do their banking with only 192 regular customers using the venue at that time.

The bank released a letter to its customers stating: “The decision to close a branch is never an easy one. However, we are finding customers are increasingly using other ways to do their every day banking."

The planning document says the site will retain its six bicycle parking spots currently available.

The site will retain seven car parking places for public access.

It is proposed the shop will be run by two full-time and two part-time staff.

Colchester Council’s planning committee will determined the application.

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