Elderly and disabled ‘limited’ by decline of high street banks – council told

By Stuart Pike

The decline of high street banking services is limiting people’s financial autonomy, a council meeting was told.

Hyndburn full council resolved on November 19 to write to the government asking how it will address the issue of residents not being able to access banking services without travelling to a different town.

A motion was proposed by Coun Noordad Aziz, who listed the closure of eight bank branches across the Great Harwood, Clayton-le-Moors, Rishton and Oswaldtwistle townships around Accrington, Lancashire.

The motion, which was carried, read: “This has impacted on elderly residents having access to banking services, such as depositing and withdrawing monies.

“With the advent of Royal Mail privatisation it has led to the withdrawal and reduction of the availability of different banking services through the Post Office. In addition, recent changes announced by Royal Mail will lead to the Post Office shutting 600 free to use cash machines, adding further restrictions in accessing to cash and a further blow to the high street.”

Coun Jenny Molineux, who is registered blind, said she had “really struggled” to access over-the-counter banking in Great Harwood.

She said: “I cannot use normal cash machines; I cannot see the screen and they don’t talk to me. Working full time when the post office is open really limits me having access to actually getting cash out.”

Coun Molineux added that talking cash machines had revolutionised banking for her, but without easy access some people were losing financial independence.

“That for me was absolutely vital that I could have control over my own finances and didn’t have to rely on someone else to get cash for me, or actually go and spend money at a supermarket,” she said.

“The closest talking cash machine is Accrington or Blackburn, which is a bus [ride] away as I obviously don’t drive. They are limiting people’s independence and being able to manage their own finance.”

Coun Tim O’Kane said a saying had been coined in Clayton years ago that their two banks were the left and right banks of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

“It still brings an ironic smile to my lips when I see planning applications for housing developments stating ‘within easy reach of services’,” he added.

Coun Sara Britcliffe, who is also Hyndburn MP, said she broadly supported the outline of the motion, and a link with high street branches ensured access to cash for customers and small businesses, as well as a sense of community.

However, she said the letter cited in the motion should be directed to the Consumers minister Paul Scully, not the Communities Minister. She also pointed out that Royal Mail and the Post Office are separate businesses, saying that “Labour party members seem to be a bit confused by this.”

“I really understand that bank branches are really vital to people,” said Miss Britcliffe. “We also should have concerns regarding the impact that the closure of branches can have. But it should be highlighted that decisions of the opening and closing of individual branches are taken by each bank.”