BANKING representatives visited Dawlish to see for themselves the need for a banking hub in the town.

MP Anne Marie Morris has said a dedicated space, in the form of a banking hub, that can be accessed by all and allows for a range of services to be accessed ‘must be prioritised’.

Her comments back calls already made by the Chamber of Trade and Town Council for improved banking access.

She met representatives from cash machine network LINK in the town to address concerns about banking provision.

Since the last bank branch closed in Dawlish pre-Covid, there have been calls for access to a banking hub.

Following the visit, LINK has made no promises but was given an ‘on-the-ground’ understanding of the situation in Dawlish, particularly its influx of tourists and older population.

Ms Morris has been campaigning for improved financial facilities in Dawlish and raised her concerns at a Treasury select committee hearing with the Financial Conduct Authority.

Following the visit to Dawlish, a decision on bringing in a banking hub could be reached in mid September.

Dawlish Chamber of Trade and Dawlish Town Council have been worried about the lack of banking facilities for several years and the detrimental effect on the community.

The chamber applied to LINK for a banking hub in Dawlish before the Covid pandemic.

The recent announcement that Lloyds Bank is to close its branch in neighbouring Teignmouth has increased concerns.

Ms Morris, LINK and community representatives and visited a number of business in Dawlish, Cockwood and Dawlish Warren to discuss the need for a banking hub in the area. 

The Post Office in The Strand already provides some banking services but it is not considered suitable long term.

Ms Morris said: ‘It was made quite clear to LINK that although the Post Office is valued and offers useful services for members of the community to complete some basic banking tasks, it is not a sufficient space to replace a bank branch. A small counter within a busy shop lacks privacy and the additional specialist advice and support that would be given by specialised bank staff is not available in this format.

‘There is also a concern that the narrow aisles of the Post Office are not disability user-friendly.’

Banking Hubs provide basic banking services, including counter services, and dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank if they need specialist knowledge or privacy.

LINK, which runs the cash and ATM network, has set criteria for providing hubs and, following the closure of any bank branch, it identifies which communities need further services.

Communities without branches can contact LINK and asked to be assessed for support which has happened in Dawlish.

LINK says, the larger the community, in terms of the number of residents and shops, the more likely it is to need cash access and deposit services, provided face to face.

LINK’s threshold for needing face to face services to be a population size of more than 7,000 within 1km of the centre, and more than 70 local retailers. The population of Dawlish is more than 13,000.

The criteria also includes how close the nearest neighbouring community with banking facilities is and with the closure of Teignmouth’s last bank, the nearest will be Newton Abbot.

The more ‘financially and digitally vulnerable’ the community is considered to be, the more it is likely to need local cash services. 

The LINK representatives spent several hours with Ms Morris walking around Dawlish and Dawlish Warren talking to members of the Chamber of Trade and councillors.

It was said LINK were receptive to the points raised by community members.

Ms Morris particularly emphasised how Dawlish, Dawlish Warren and surrounding area meets the criteria.