Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 28 November 2021

A CAMPAIGN being led by Hinckley’s Lib Dems to save bank branches from future closures is coming to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

Coun. Michael Mullaney (Lib Dem, Hinckley De Montfort), has said that he is putting forward a motion to call on the Government to give more powers to the Financial Conduct Authority, to prevent large banks from closing without ‘adequate’ alternatives.

It is set to be debated at a meeting on Tuesday, 30 November.

Coun. Mullaney stressed that he does not want to see any more town centre banks face the axe in the future, as he believes they are ‘important’ facilities to lose.

He added that it is ‘vital’ that the Government acts to prevent further bank closures in towns like Hinckley.

The motion comes after Hinckley’s most recent bank branch closures – Santander, who closed their doors on 29 July, and Halifax, who pulled their shutters down to customers for the final time on 21 October.

Both banking firms cited customers using other branches and online banking as the reasoning for them leaving the town centre.

Councillor Mullaney is hopeful that councillors across the borough will support the motion.

He said: “I hope all Councillors here in Hinckley and Bosworth will support the motion and that the Chancellor and Conservative government will listen and take action to prevent further bank branches closing in towns like Hinckley and across the country.”

Coun. Ann Pendlebury (Lib Dem, Hinckley Clarendon), is seconding the motion, and she has slammed the two recent closures, claiming that they are hitting “some of the most vulnerable” people in society.

She said that banks closing their branches mean many will be “excluded” from visiting banks at all – or will have to travel out of town just to do their banking.

Coun. Pendlebury continued: “Many residents, particularly some older people prefer to bank in person and not online.

“The banks are huge corporations and should show some social responsibility by keeping branches in towns like Hinckley open for those residents who still need to bank in person.

“I hope the Borough Council will back this campaign and the government will listen and give teeth to the FCA to stop banks just closing still needed branches.”