Ex-mayor joins battle to keep bank branch

UNDER THREAT . . . NatWest Bank at Uppermill

A FORMER mayor of Oldham has sent a strongly-worded letter to bosses of NatWest which would see Saddleworth's last remaining bank close next year.

Dr Richard Knowles, who lives in Greenfield, has joined the frustrated backlash by locals fighting to retain the bank on Uppermill's High Street.

The campaigning former councillor wrote directly to Ross McEwan, NatWest bank's chief executive and Sir Philip Hampton, the chairman, complaining about the closure which is scheduled next June.

He highlights the bank is in this semi-rural Yorkshire community of more than 30,000 people in an area of more than 25 square miles.

"NatWest recently reduced the opening hours of Uppermill branch and stopped opening on Wednesdays without proper public consultation, causing hardship to local businesses, especially those paying in cash," he says.

"I observed, when paying in cash twice at 9.30am on Thursday mornings in November, queues of nine customers, three counter staff, but only one with their machine switched on at 9.30am, and a wait of 20 minutes to be served.

"There were also no forms available to change signatures on a business/society account. This is poor customer service and the bank could run efficiently and profitably with two staff instead of three."

He continues: "Banking Industry protocol signed in March 2015 requires banks to investigate arrangements before closing the last bank.

"I would like to see NatWest's:

"1. Rigorous public-interest assessment undertaken before closure was announced on December 1.

"2. Evidence of your consultation with the local community and bank account holders.

"The Abandoned Communities - Impact of Bank Closures on Local Economies Report estimates that bank branch closures dampen Small & Medium Enterprises lending growth by 63 per cent and by 104 per cent for postcodes that lose their last bank. Such postcodes are estimated to receive almost £1.6 million less lending in one year."

Dr Knowles says NatWest's record in the area is very poor with branch closures in Delph and Greenfield and neighbouring communities of Mossley and Lees.

None of these communities will have any bank branches at all if Uppermill closes­ - in contrast with nearby and smaller Holmfirth which has four Bank branches Lloyds, Barclays, Santander and HSBC, although the latter is closing in 2017.

He adds: "You claim to be 'communicating with our customers' and that 'the nearest branch is in Oldham town centre is 4.91 miles away' (the crow fly distance) when the shortest road distance from Uppermill over a hill 850 foot above sea level, and often blocked in bad weather, is actually 5.5 miles.

"I urge NatWest Bank to reconsider their decision to close the Uppermill branch and instead rationalise the staffing of this branch and improve its customer focus."

Businesses and locals backed by councillors and MP Debbie Abrahams, are pressing the bank to reconsider.