Town chiefs are backing potential plans for a new restaurant in a growing town ahead of one of its four high street banks closing this summer.
HSBC in Market Place, Wymondham, is due to shut in August but plans have been submitted to South Norfolk Council by London-based Sudbury and Halstead Investment Properties for a certificate of lawful use for proposed change of use from bank to a restaurant/coffee shop for the unit.
When it closes the town would be left with a Barclays, Lloyds and Nationwide Building Society all in its centre.
Kevin Hurn, Conservative councillor for Wymondham central for South Norfolk Council and Wymondham Town Council, said: "The town has prided itself on having three out of four big banks.
"It is sad to lose one and it does make one sceptical that if one goes others follow but that is a concern in lots of market towns.
"People are doing lots more banking online and banks are encouraging people to do online banking.
"It is sad HSBC is going but it is good it is not going to be an empty unit.
"There are lots of coffee shops in Wymondham but a restaurant would be a good addition to the high street. We don't have many fine dining restaurants."
He added the Victorian/Edwardian building is close to the Lloyds bank and it had a courtyard in the back which would appeal to a restaurant owner or business.
Mr Hurn said the bank features could be re-used to represent its past function for the 21st century.
Kim Carsok, a town councillor, said: "For a town the size of Wymondham there is not much of a nighttime economy. We have good pubs but it would be good to have a restaurant.
"We are looking for things like restaurants and if that brings more people into the town, that is great."
Another town councillor Kathryn Cross, who runs Centre Paws Norfolk canine business hub on the edge of Wymondham, said banks remained vital for businesses and the older generation because "we are not a cashless society yet".
She added she would prefer an independent business to open in the HSBC building.
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