Sara Britcliffe, Member of Parliament for Hyndburn and Haslingden, has secured a banking hub for Great Harwood following a community request she made earlier this year. The decision, made today by Link, means Great Harwood will get a banking hub that provides over the counter advice and services for major banks as well as consultation rooms where people can meet employees from their bank.
Following Ms Britcliffe’s request in May 2023, made after several meetings and extensive consultation with people and businesses in Great Harwood, LINK visited Great Harwood and undertook their own analysis. Based on their criteria Link have recommended that Great Harwood should be served by a shared banking hub.
High street banks have been closing across the country and that means people are losing out on access to cash and in person banking advice. This trend particularly impacts businesses, the elderly, and those who are less well off. Before Ms Britcliffe’s intervention, Great Harwood had lost all of its high street banks, leaving residents with poor access to banking services.
The Hyndburn and Haslingden MP has been a champion of improving banking services and access to cash, recently hosting a parliamentary reception on the subject urging the government to recognise the right to free access to cash in law.
The process now moves from Link to Cash Access UK – who are responsible for implementing Link’s decision in terms of identifying a site and securing a lease.
Sara Britcliffe MP commented:
Many people in the north of Hyndburn, in Great Harwood and Rishton, often complain to me about the lack of banking services. I have been determined to do something about that.
This news today means that residents will now have a fully fledged banking hub in Great Harwood which provides the same services as a traditional bank and where individuals will be able to access advice and services from their own bank.
Before I submitted the community request for Great Harwood I consulted with businesses and individuals and it became clear there was much support for this initiative. I now look forward to working with Cash Access UK on completing the project.
