I wanted to send you an update about the latest in our campaign to get a banking hub in Hedon.
You’ll be aware that, together with the 2000 plus people who signed our petition, I persuaded LINK (the organisation responsible for deciding how Hedon should have access to cash) to reconsider their assessment.
They’ve now completed the assessment and I’m disappointed to share with you that, because of the population and the number of shops in the centre of Hedon, the town doesn’t qualify for a banking hub.
The alternatives they suggest is that further investment could go into the Post Office to make it more suitable for the needs of the town, or they could install a ‘Cash Hub’ - a place to house withdrawal machines but no banking services.
It’s not ideal, but they have accepted our key argument: that the Post Office simply can’t be Hedon’s bank right now. It’s too small and would be almost impossible to be made accessible. I will also be pushing for Lloyd's to stay in Hedon until a suitable alternative is found, as happened in Withernsea.
Whatever happens, I want to make sure that cash is available to deposit and get, so we keep the high street in Hedon alive and thriving.
Tomorrow I’ll be meeting Cash Access UK to make sure that we look after Hedon and that we look after cash.