Moretonhampstead and Chagford banks to close.
The retreat of banks from Britain's streets is in full flight – with Dartmoor suffering considerably at the hands of cost cutting.
Branches across the country are being axed at a rate never witnessed before as the big banking organisations seek to ruthlessly cut costs and push more people online.
In many instances, the closures are leaving villages and towns without a bank, forcing both residents and retailers to travel further afield to do their banking.
Communities that a year ago had a choice of banks have now become banking wastelands with only the local post office and the odd cash machine, where they still exist, providing locals with access to cash and basic services.
Ashburton lost their Natwest branch in 2015, and in November of last year their last bank – Lloyds – shut its doors. The Post Office has stepped in to fill the void as best as it can.
Okehampton’s HSBC closed in February of last year – with the nearest alternative being Tavistock, 16 miles away.
Chagford’s Natwest shut in February 2015 – with the Bovey Tracey branch of the same bank closing in the following September. The Lloyds bank in South Brent has also closed and the branches in Chagford and Moretonhampstead are due to close on 24th May of this year.
It’s not just the banking services, though. The Post Office in Chagford has also closed leaving a determined postmaster offering a couple of hours a few days a week in the village hall, and the Moretonhampstead Post Office is under threat of closure.
The Moorlander newspaper has launched a petition in order to allow people to voice their concerns over all the recent, and future, closures of our vital services. Hundreds of local people have already signed in the first 24 hours.Updates
February 1, 2017
I have spent this week talking to shop owners who are genuinely terrified about how they will manage their daily cash takings once the doors lock for good. The silence from the banks is deafening but it only confirms that our local economy is nothing more than a line on a spreadsheet to them.
February 1, 2017
Seeing this groundswell of support has been overwhelming because I know firsthand how much life drains out of our neighborhood when the doors lock for good. These local businesses are the heartbeat of our town and I am ready to take this momentum directly to the decision makers.
40 Comments
I am a community nurse. How will my elderly patients who cannot use a cashpoint get money
I live in Chagford & I'm self employed therefore rely on the essential services of our local Lloyds Bank for my business. I work full time hours therefore unable to travel over to Okehampton Lloyds branch during the opening hours. Lloyds in Chagford is an essential lifeline for our community.
No bank? Use our post office. What post office? We don't have one anymore and the poor guy who comes for a couple of hours three times a week has enough trouble coping with post let alone becoming a bank too.
Closing banks is a death knell for local business. Please think of the social value act which is in law and which banks, part owned by tax payer, should also be subject to.
My 77 yr mum (banking with Lloyds for well over 25 years) doesn't drive nor does she has a computer or access to on-line facilities. How is she supposed to access banking services without a physical bank or post office?
I will shortly be moving to Chagford, and was intending to switch to Lloyds Bank, this being the only bank in the town. The idea that people are "choosing" to bank online is a politician's argument, for it has only happened because bank staff have been instructed to advertise this to customers - at a cost to their own jobs!
We need a bank in Chagford
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Moretonhampstead and Chagford banks to close.
The retreat of banks from Britain's streets is in full flight – with Dartmoor suffering considerably at the hands of cost cutting.
Branches across the country are being axed at a rate never witnessed before as the big banking organisations seek to ruthlessly cut costs and push more people online.
In many instances, the closures are leaving villages and towns without a bank, forcing both residents and retailers to travel further afield to do their banking.
Communities that a year ago had a choice of banks have now become banking wastelands with only the local post office and the odd cash machine, where they still exist, providing locals with access to cash and basic services.
Ashburton lost their Natwest branch in 2015, and in November of last year their last bank – Lloyds – shut its doors. The Post Office has stepped in to fill the void as best as it can.
Okehampton’s HSBC closed in February of last year – with the nearest alternative being Tavistock, 16 miles away.
Chagford’s Natwest shut in February 2015 – with the Bovey Tracey branch of the same bank closing in the following September. The Lloyds bank in South Brent has also closed and the branches in Chagford and Moretonhampstead are due to close on 24th May of this year.
It’s not just the banking services, though. The Post Office in Chagford has also closed leaving a determined postmaster offering a couple of hours a few days a week in the village hall, and the Moretonhampstead Post Office is under threat of closure.
The Moorlander newspaper has launched a petition in order to allow people to voice their concerns over all the recent, and future, closures of our vital services. Hundreds of local people have already signed in the first 24 hours.Updates
February 1, 2017
I have spent this week talking to shop owners who are genuinely terrified about how they will manage their daily cash takings once the doors lock for good. The silence from the banks is deafening but it only confirms that our local economy is nothing more than a line on a spreadsheet to them.
February 1, 2017
Seeing this groundswell of support has been overwhelming because I know firsthand how much life drains out of our neighborhood when the doors lock for good. These local businesses are the heartbeat of our town and I am ready to take this momentum directly to the decision makers.
40 Comments
This is causing hardship for the elderly: those lacking in confidence. The more remote areas of Dartmoor also have poor wifi and mobile reception, making online services difficult. Just had to drag my 87 yr old immobile mother all the way into Exeter to open an account.
I am a community nurse. How will my elderly patients who cannot use a cashpoint get money
I live in Chagford & I'm self employed therefore rely on the essential services of our local Lloyds Bank for my business. I work full time hours therefore unable to travel over to Okehampton Lloyds branch during the opening hours. Lloyds in Chagford is an essential lifeline for our community.
No bank? Use our post office. What post office? We don't have one anymore and the poor guy who comes for a couple of hours three times a week has enough trouble coping with post let alone becoming a bank too.
Closing banks is a death knell for local business. Please think of the social value act which is in law and which banks, part owned by tax payer, should also be subject to.
My 77 yr mum (banking with Lloyds for well over 25 years) doesn't drive nor does she has a computer or access to on-line facilities. How is she supposed to access banking services without a physical bank or post office?
I will shortly be moving to Chagford, and was intending to switch to Lloyds Bank, this being the only bank in the town. The idea that people are "choosing" to bank online is a politician's argument, for it has only happened because bank staff have been instructed to advertise this to customers - at a cost to their own jobs!
We need a bank in Chagford
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This is causing hardship for the elderly: those lacking in confidence. The more remote areas of Dartmoor also have poor wifi and mobile reception, making online services difficult. Just had to drag my 87 yr old immobile mother all the way into Exeter to open an account.