Saddleworth Lib-Dems demand new banking services

Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Al-Hamdani

A new banking hub for Saddleworth is being demanded by the Liberal Democrats, after they insisted the area has 'lost 75% of its banking facilities in the since 2015'.

They successfully passed a motion at Saddleworth Parish Council requesting an “access to cash” review by the industry regulator Link.

Council group leader Sam Al-Hamdani said: “The sheer size of Saddleworth - around 50% of the whole of the Oldham borough - means it is really easy for people to be isolated, and that means the lack of services really hits hard.

“We are seeing banks closing in the centre of Oldham; they have long gone from the villages of Saddleworth, and we need alternatives.

"Banking hubs are exactly that, and I can’t understand why Link haven’t already identified the area as being in need of additional support.”

Over 100 locations across the UK have been identified by Link as being in need of new banking facilities, such as banking hubs and deposit services, although far fewer have actually been delivered.

Cllr Al-Hamdani added: “Saddleworth has pockets of deprivation, and there are significant numbers of people who are left without services such as banking - there aren’t even many cash machines that are available 24/7.

“We need basic services - not just banking, but access to GPs, for example.

"The construction industry is broken - all we get is expensive houses that make profits for developers.

"That needs to change, and that’s why we’re putting the need for these essential services first.”

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