Council backs campaign to protect remaining bank branches
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council has backed a campaign to save remaining bank branches. It comes as TSB announced today that it proposed to close 70 of its remaining bank branches including the one in Melton Mowbray.
The motion was proposed by Hinckley Lib Dem councillor Michael Mullaney. Michael said "It's vital we protect the remaining bank branches that we have in Hinckley and Bosworth.
"We have already seen Santander and the Halifax close their branches in Hinckley this year. We don't want to see anymore bank branches close. We have also seen TSB today announce mass planned bank closures. This motion calls on the government to give the financial Conduct Authority powers to stop banks making further sweeping bank branch closures.
"Although many people now use internet banking, many people still rely on branches for banking. This includes many elderly customers who will struggle to travel long distances to bank branches in other towns or cities if they don't drive. Also we don't want to see closures of important services on our town's high streets."
"It was good that Lib Dem and Labour councillors backed the motion to try and save local bank branches. It was really disappointing to see Conservative councillors vote against this motion that would help protect our remaining bank branches."
Seconding the motion Hinckley Clarendon Lib Dem Councillor Ann Pendlebury said "While banks are used less and less, and internet banking becomes the norm for the majority, as usual it is the disenfranchised and the invisible that lose out. For example my mum is 90, she lives in Hinckley, she was born into an era where owning a car was rare and a TV unknown. She went through a world war, she ran a hospital and rode across Africa on her moped at a time before the first modern electronic digital Anasoff-Berry computer had even been thought of. Now she lives alone, her grasp of the internet is limited and internet banking is impossible for her. For her, now a trip to the bank means going to Nuneaton or Leicester. She no longer drives, couldn't catch a bus and taxi ride would cost £13.00 each way, all to do the most basic of human rights have access to a person at a bank.
"I wish this was an isolated case it isn't. Not only does this affect our older residents, and let's not forget Hinckley has an older than average age of resident, but also those struggling with physical and mental health issues who either don't have access a computer or are unable to use one.
"Also the impact on small business as ATMs close (we have lost over 3,300 machines since the start of 2020) and for those still wanting to pay in cash, my mum being one of there are fewer places to get that cash and fewer places for business's to deposit this cash as local branches close.
"So it is my privilege to call on my colleagues across all parties to back this motion and not only put people before profit but ask this government to back business the economy of our towns and villages."