The “council Chief” has not seen fit to intervene in the closure of any other banks in East Devon but no doubt chats with his high-profile Vice-Chairman Helen Parr (Colyton) at EDDC he has felt he must do what he can to help.
Other towns look forward to a similar intervention by the two of them on their behalf should their remaining banks be threatened with closure.
DCC Councillor Claire Wright recently wrote to Lloyds Chairman begging him not to close the branch in Ottery:
Councillor Hughes (also a DCC councillor with highways responsibility) does not appear to have offered his support there.
“Council chief joins fight to save Colyton bank
East Devon District Council chairman Stuart Hughes has thrown his weight behind Colyton’s fight to save its Lloyds Bank branch from closure.
Members of St Andrew’s Parish Church recently wrote to the company’s chairman, Lord Norman Blackwell, appealing to him to reverse his decision to pull out of the town.
In their letter, the rector, the Reverend Hilary Dawson and her two church wardens, Christine Sansom and David Fouracre, said: “It would appear in the world of big business, small is not beautiful. However, to a community like ours, such a facility is crucial.
“We have a predominately elderly population living in a rural location. Many are without private transport, and public transport is infrequent and impractical for those with mobility problems. Many of the elderly are not computer literate, so online banking is not an option for them.
“A large proportion of the Colyton population have banked with Lloyds for many years, primarily because we have a fully functioning bank within the community. Your planned closure of this branch reflects the continued marginalisation of a hitherto thriving rural community.”
Now, in a show of support, Cllr Hughes has echoed parishioners’ concerns in a further letter to Lord Blackwell. He wrote: “Small branches like the one in Colyton are vital for rural communities and I am asking that the Lloyds Banking Group gives serious reconsideration to closing it. Such facilities are absolutely key to the life of our communities and we need to keep them open.”
Colyton district councillor Helen Parr added: “Not only will the loss of Lloyds Bank be a blow to personal customers, it will also hit businesses and many organisations and societies. The loss of our only bank would be a serious threat to the economic prosperity of the town.”
http://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/council_chief_joins_fight_to_save_colyton_bank_1_4651305
East Devon Watch 