Banking hub needed for people in Ellesmere Port

Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Justin Madders and two councillors representing the town centre have highlighted the needs of local people – a number of them ‘vulnerable’ citizens – to be able to use face-to-face banking facilities.

Mr Madders and Councillors Karen Shore and Bob Bisset are keen to know what arrangements are being put in place once the Barclays town centre branch shuts for good in April – HSBC Bank also closed last year.

When Barclays announced last autumn – to the dismay of many customers – that it was closing its Whitby Road branch, the company said arrangements would be put in place for a banking hub instead.

In a letter to Joseph Appleton, Barclays customer care director, Merseyside & North Midlands, Wales & West Region, the trio wrote: “It is disappointing that the decision has been taken to close Ellesmere Port’s branch of Barclays, news that will doubtless be met with sadness among your customers.

“It is the second bank to close in the town centre over the past few months and is becoming a trend we are increasingly concerned about.

“We are concerned that those reliant on the functions provided by face-to-face banking are some of the most vulnerable in our community. Many will no doubt find the switch to online banking or travelling to Chester challenging.”

Referring to alternative arrangements, which might potentially involve other banks too, Mr Madders and the ward councillors wrote: “We would like to hear more about your plans for after the closure date and seek assurance that there will be some form of face-to-face presence in the town.

“In particular, we are interested to hear about plans, in your words, for an ‘alternative physical presence’ in the town and the continued access to free bank withdrawals from an ATM at or near the site.

“We believe some form of ‘banking hub’ should be created alongside other banks and building societies which have also recently closed.”

On the decision to close the bank branch, Barclays has been going through a 12-week consultation process which Mr Madders believes is “nothing more than a box-ticking exercise”.

The politicians wrote to Mr Appleton: “We have no doubt from previous experience that you will not reverse this decision but nevertheless would urge you to reconsider given the importance many of our most vulnerable residents place on having you bank in the town centre.

“If you do intend to proceed with the closure then ensuring that the right mitigations are in place is extremely important to us.”

Mr Madders has also raised his concerns in a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on ‘Employment and the High Street’ when he said:  “I am afraid this drive to online services is being used by banks that can frankly afford to keep those branches open. It is part of a wider trend.”

Pictured - Barclays Bank in Ellesmere Port.