Are you frustrated that you need to travel to a distant town, often on extended multiple bus journeys to speak to someone face to face at the bank that holds your money?
Are you frustrated that you can not always get cash out because we now only have two unreliable cash points in the immediate town centre, whereas before we had at least six and mostly in good working order?
If yes, then maybe you can support me in attempting to get much-needed banking access back into the town.
Yes, I know you can withdraw or deposit cash into most banks (but not all) at the post office, you can even deposit cheques via a smartphone app these days, but that is not always the answer, and it is not for everyone. It may not always be appropriate to do banking at a post office counter desk when you can be overheard by the person next to you, particularly if you need to talk to someone about things that are confidential, and many of these sorts of issues, could not be dealt with at a post office counter anyway.
I know we also have the Lloyds Bank van that appears every other Monday, for a few hours in the morning, but that is for Lloyds customers only and is barely accessible to anyone with poor mobility and if you’re in a wheelchair, there is no hope!
I recently put a poll on Facebook asking if the people of Calne wanted a banking hub in the town and the need for one is overwhelmingly supported by 96% of people who responded. The poll is still open and available on my Facebook page (here).
I have started to research the process to apply for a Banking Hub. I do not think this will be a quick process, so I have also been chasing up Cashzone (Esso garage) and Sainburys to maintain the only two cash points that reside in the immediate vicinity of the town centre.
Please in the meantime, answer the poll and please encourage your friends and family also.