St. Peter’s Ward Councillors, Roger Lawrence, Tersaim Singh and Lynn Moran have joined forces with Rob Marris MP to launch a community campaign in an attempt to save the local branch of the TSB at the Avion Centre from closure.
Plans to close the popular branch first appeared in the press July of this year. However it appears, despite a recent agreement between government and the British Bankers’ Association that banks considering closure engage with the local community affected, there is little evidence this has taken place.
St. Peter’s ward councillor and Council Leader said, “As the only remaining bank in the community this closure will not just cause inconvenience for local people, but is likely to increase financial exclusion in the area.”
“Both Rob Marris and myself have written to the TSB to outline our concerns and are yet to receive a reply, which is disappointing. In particular I have asked what consultation has been undertaken with the local community prior to the announcement of closure, and what consideration has been given to the impact on the local community of closure?”
“I have also asked whether the closure of the bank will lead to any job losses and what measures are being taken to ensure that these can be kept to an absolute minimum. We would urge TSB to reconsider their decision and at the very least undertake a proper community consultation.”
Rob Marris added “banks have a duty to the communities which they serve and from where they derive their profits. The least they can do is explain to local residents why the bank is proposing to close this branch.”
Ward Councillors and Rob Marris MP are encouraging local people who are concerned about the proposed closure to either sign an on-line petition: http://tinyurl.com/hrrawz8 or contact them if they would prefer to sign a paper petition which will be available at the various community engagements they attend.
Image courtesy of the Express and Star: http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2016/07/28/two-wolverhampton-tsb-branches-to-close-in-cutbacks/