by Rebecca Hannant
Elected representatives for South West Holderness are set to host a rally calling for the protection of banking services in Hedon.
On Saturday, October 18, MP Graham Stuart, South West Holderness ward councillors and town councillors will gather in Market Place at 10.30am to protest against the loss of local banking facilities.
Last month, Lloyds Bank announced that its Hedon branch would close at the end of January next year, along with 48 others across the country. As part of the closure, the cash machines will also be decommissioned. Lloyds said this was because of increasing demand for online services and the availability of other banking options locally.
Before the closure could proceed, Lloyds was required to contact LINK, which assesses whether a community qualifies for a banking hub. However, LINK has confirmed that Hedon will not receive one, as the town does not meet its eligibility criteria.
To qualify for a banking hub, a town must have at least 70 shops and an adult population of 10,000. While Hedon meets the population requirement, LINK said the town only has 39 shops, making it ineligible.
The decision has left residents worried about access to cash and banking services, with many urging LINK to reconsider.
Resident Joyce Whittle said: “Our hope is that LINK should reconsider their decision not to open a banking hub in Hedon or provide 24-hour accessible ATMs in the centre of town.”
Meanwhile, Mr Stuart has launched a petition that has so far received more than 900 signatures. Instead of recommending a banking hub, LINK said the only required action was to improve accessibility at the existing post office in Occasions by introducing step-free access.
Mr Stuart described the decision as a “classic computer-says-no stitch-up based on bureaucratic criteria”. He said LINK had failed to consider the wider South West Holderness area, which includes Paull, Preston and Thorngumbald. While Hedon alone meets the population requirement, the wider region has more than 15,000 residents.
He also criticised the decision for treating Hedon “like a suburb of Hull” rather than “a historic, proud town in its own right”.
Concerns have also been raised about the suitability of the post office inside the Occasions shop, with fears it could struggle to cope with increased demand.
Mr Stuart said: “I’m fighting for Hedon to have the banking services its people deserve. I refuse to accept LINK’s ‘computer says no’ approach to our town, and I know the people of Hedon are determined to protect the most vulnerable.
“Local voices matter, and while I’m doing battle for the town in meetings with LINK, the Post Office and Lloyds, I hope to see as many of you as possible on Saturday.”
Councillor Steve Gallant said: “I was out on Wednesday, market day in Hedon, leafleting and talking to residents to come along on Saturday morning. We want to see a good turnout to show how important this is to everyone.
“So far LINK is saying we don’t need a banking hub based on their criteria, but this thriving market town is more than just its shops. There are so many small businesses in Hedon and the surrounding villages, and they all need access to banking facilities.
“I hope the strength of feeling we demonstrate will get LINK to reconsider and help us identify a location for a hub and more ATMs in the town.”