Widespread bank branch closures in South Gloucestershire ‘severing lifeline services’
Residents are struggling to access basic banking services
Widespread bank branch closures are affecting many parts of South Gloucestershire “severing lifeline services” according to Tory councillors. Both villages and suburbs of the district have seen branches and Post Offices disappear, leaving people without access to crucial services.
Conservative councillors tabled a motion which called for action on the cash crisis. While a few positive examples exist in South Gloucestershire, like a mobile Post Office every Friday morning in a rural village, thousands of people across the district are struggling to access basic banking.
The motion called on South Gloucestershire Council to explore how these services can be kept open. One potential example is that buildings owned by the council could be turned into banking hubs. Without in-person banking, local shops can suffer as residents struggle to access cash.
Banking hubs, owned by Cash Access UK, allow customers to access services from multiple banks, like paying in cash and cheques, withdrawing money, paying bills and checking balances. The motion was passed by councillors during a full council meeting on Wednesday, December 17.
Councillor Liz Brennan, leader of the Conservative group, said: “For many residents, such as older people without online banking and small business owners, the local Post Office is not a convenience, it’s a lifeline. But across South Gloucestershire, high street banking has already been steadily disappearing.
“We’ve lost branches in Downend, Staple Hill, Kingswood, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Hanham, Filton, Patchway and more. When access to cash disappears, footfall falls and high streets suffer. In Downend we see this impact clearly. We have a vibrant and much-loved high street, but it thrives only when people can pop in, get what they need and support local businesses.”
In the village of Rockhampton, north of Thornbury, a mobile Post Office arrives between 9.30am and 10.30am every Friday, and was described by councillors as “extremely valuable”. And earlier in December, a new banking hub opened in Turnberries Community Centre in Thornbury.
But other rural communities across the district still lack access to similar services. One example is the small village of Doynton, near the A420 east of Bristol. An outreach Post Office was open for one afternoon a week, until this closed in March after funding was withdrawn.
Conservative Cllr Ben Stokes said: “We tried to do what we could but the money just isn’t there in the system. For those residents who were relying on that, and particularly the elderly who don’t drive, this was a severing of a lifeline.”
The motion calls on cabinet members at the council to write to the government, seeking assurance that local access to Post Office services will be maintained. Cabinet members are also asked to work with the Post Office and Cash Access UK to identify areas at risk and explore options to maintain access to services
Options will also be explored for accelerating the roll-out of new banking hubs in communities affected by branch closures. And a progress report will be made back to the council within 12 months.