This week I wrote to local residents who have signed my petition calling for a new Harpenden Banking Hub in the Harpenden Public Halls development, to give them an update on our campaign to protect in-person banking services in Harpenden.
We all know how important it is to protect and improve banking provision in Harpenden. This redevelopment offers us an almost unique opportunity to deliver a bespoke Banking Hub which could serve our community for generations to come – protecting access to cash and in-person banking services for residents and businesses.
Firstly, I am delighted that the District Council have now confirmed to me that they will investigate further the possibility of including a Banking Hub in the Public Halls redevelopment. This is a hugely welcome first step, and your support by signing my petition on this will help us to achieve our aim of a new Banking Hub by demonstrating the overwhelming public support for this idea. If you have friends or neighbours who have not yet signed the petition, your support to encourage them to do so at www.bimafolami.co.uk/harpenden-banking-hub is appreciated. Together we can make this happen.
If the District Council do go ahead with including a development in the Public Halls, I will be working with them, industry and Government to ensure that it has all the tools it needs to be a success. As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Financial Markets & Services, I have been Chairing a Commission with senior figures from across the banking and financial services sectors looking at how financial services can help with levelling up. One area we have been looking at is exactly this – how the industry can better support areas left behind by declining high street banking – and I will continue to work to bring these banks together to deliver a viable Banking Hub in Harpenden.
Finally, the Government has published its initial plans for the Financial Markets & Services Bill, which was announced at the Queen’s Speech. I am told that there will be protections for access to cash in this Bill and I will work closely with Ministerial colleagues to ensure these deliver for our communities.