by Rebecca Hannant
Hedon will get a new staffed cash hub after Cash Access UK confirmed it would install a secure facility in the town centre offering withdrawal and deposit services five days a week.
The move comes despite Hedon still not qualifying for a full banking hub, which LINK has again ruled out following its latest review.
However, MP Graham Stuart said the new cash hub represented a significant step forward in preserving access to cash when Lloyds Bank closes in January.
He said Cash Access UK has guaranteed a hub that will be located within a local business, open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and staffed by two dedicated employees. It will have security facilities and a safe, and customers will be able to withdraw and deposit cash, cash cheques and check their balance.
The location has not yet been confirmed, but two businesses have already expressed interest, with Cash Access UK set to visit the town to assess options.
The cash hub will not provide private meeting rooms or bank representatives, but Mr Stuart said it will ensure essential cash services remain available.
“While this is not the banking hub we have all been campaigning for, it is a significant step forward,” he said. “Cash Access UK are working to get the hub installed as quickly as possible and I will be checking progress regularly.”
He added that he was also pushing for an additional cash machine in the town centre to support both the hub and the post office.
In a message to local residents, Mr Stuart said: “I want to thank you for helping me with this so far and for signing my petition.
“Working together has forced LINK to reconsider their recommendation that no extra facilities were needed and shown that Hedon needs, and now will get, access to cash.”
This development follows LINK’s updated review, which again found Hedon did not meet the criteria for a full banking hub.
In September, Lloyds Bank announced that its Hedon branch would close at the end of January along with 48 others across the country. Lloyds said this was because of increasing use of online services and alternative sources available locally.
Under the rules, banks that are closing must notify LINK Cash Access so that an assessment of community needs can be carried out.
In October, LINK published its findings and concluded that Hedon did not meet the eligibility criteria for a banking hub, as the town would need at least 70 shops and an adult population of 10,000. While Hedon met the population threshold, LINK determined that the town only had 39 shops, meaning it did not qualify.
Instead, LINK identified that ATM access was sufficient in the town and recommended improvements to the post office to make it more accessible.
The decision was met with anger among townsfolk and Mr Stuart, who said the ruling gave a “computer says no” response to the needs of the community. Concerns were raised over reliance on the post office for alternative provisions, with some questioning how viable the service would be for an increased volume of customers. A petition launched by Mr Stuart gained more than 2,000 signatures.
A spokeswoman for Cash Access UK said: “Following LINK’s recommendation yesterday for additional services in Hedon, our team will begin the process to identify a solution in the town.
“We know how important access to cash remains for many people across the UK, and we look forward to working with the local community in Hedon.”
Hedon resident Joyce Whittle said: “I’m very disappointed Link does not consider residents and businesses of Hedon warrant a banking hub with the imminent loss of our bank and two ATMs. There will be impacts for residents, businesses and the community.
“This will cause difficulties for many people in our community and still could affect footfall to our town centre shops and businesses. We should be doing all we can to preserve facilities and businesses in town centres.
“The cash hub, while not being the answer to all our concerns, is welcome in the circumstances. We should, however, not lose sight of the provision of proper banking services required to support our communities and businesses.
“We have questions of what exactly the cash hub will allow and what limits there are as to deposits, withdrawals and other services, both for residents and businesses. It is essential the cash hub has disabled access and is within the town centre so as not to affect footfall to the town centre businesses, also to allow residents to meet up while shopping and obtaining cash or paying bills. It is also essential we have town centre ATMs.
“I’m glad Cash Access have listened to some of the concerns, as they are certainly valid and important to our communities’ wellbeing. Thank you to all signing the petition, also thanks to our MP and his team in their ongoing efforts to secure cash access and banking services in Hedon.”