A petition calling for the last bank branch in one area of York to be saved has been delivered.
YorkMix reported in March that Halifax was set to shut its branch in York Road, Acomb.
Now Westfield ward Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Waller has submitted a petition to Halifax asking for what is the last bank in Acomb to be safeguarded. It has been signed by 1,126 residents.
Cllr Waller visited the bank’s Leeds HQ on Thursday to meet with regional public affairs manager Liz Delahaye and present the petition.
At the meeting he discussed the impact that the proposed closure will have on local residents, many of whom are not able to switch to online banking.
Many residents who signed the petition also added their own comments such as:
- “I cannot easily get to City Centre Branch. This branch is invaluable as is the only bank branch left in this area.”
- “Not all people are able to use internet banking and need people to talk to. This area has a large elderly population who don’t have the internet.”
- “I and many of my family use this Acomb Branch regularly. The staff are extremely helpful and will resolve your queries, even unusual ones.”
Cllr Waller said: “I’d like to thank everyone who signed the petition, and all the volunteers who helped to collect signatures.
“I hope that Halifax reflect on the comments that people have submitted and think carefully about what banking services will be left longer-term in our area.
“If the closure does go ahead, then we need to have clarity around what services can be provided locally to enable people to continue to have access to face-to-face banking services.
“There are plans for a ‘Banking Hub’ to be established in Acomb, at which counter services would be available, and I want to see these plans developed in consultation with the local Post Office, which already offers some banking services.
“There had been initial comments from LINK that there would be a drop-in during July to talk the community through what a replacement Hub would look like in terms of a bank counter, cash points, and all the services that can currently be accessed with the potential of additional ones in a new format.
“At my meeting with Liz Delahaye I was assured that if the branch closure does go ahead, the Banking Hub will need to be up and running before that happens. It’s also crucial that cash machines both external and internal are available.”
