THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue 613 5th February 2020 Read by more than 40,000 people each week Lloyds to close Hanham and Downend banks Lloyds has announced it is to close its banks in Hanham customer demand for branch transactions and service. and Downend. Sometimes this will mean we make the difficult decision to It is part of Lloyds Banking Group’s latest round of closures close branches.” affecting a total of 56 branches. Traders say they will no longer be able to access change for The closure of the branch in Hanham High Street on 3rd June their shops, bank their takings or carry out other necessary will leave Hanham without a bank. The HSBC closed some financial transactions near their businesses. Instead they will years ago and the NatWest shut in 2018. have to close while they drive to Kingswood, adding to the This week Hanham councillors said they would be urging carbon footprint. Lloyds to reconsider the threatened closure because of the Lloyds says counters at the Hanham branch are 20% quieter impact on the economy of the High Street. than a year ago. A total of 439 of its customers use the branch The bank’s Downend branch is due to close in May Bernard Jackson, chairman of Hanham Business Community on a regular monthly basis. The nearest Lloyds is the Partnership, said: “It is another nail in the coffin for the High Kingswood branch 1.19 miles away and Lloyds says there such as ‘Love Our High Street’ campaigns and making funds Street.” He added that the bank is always busy when he visits, are regular buses between Hanham and Kingswood with a available to support local traders to reinvigorate our High and he has to queue. journey time of around 15 minutes. Streets, the loss of the last bank in Hanham will deal a blow Explaining its decision, Lloyds said: “We are constantly This week local councillor June Bamford said “At a time to both traders and shoppers. Banks contribute to the local transforming our branch network as we reflect changing when South Gloucestershire Council is supporting initiatives economy as their customers shop, visit one of the hairdressers or relax with a coffee in the High Street.” And fellow councillor Brenda Langley said: “Not long ago there were four cashpoints along the High Street, now there will only be one outside the Co-op. The loss of Hanham’s last bank will be a further blow to the vibrancy of our High Street.” Lloyds closed its Staple Hill branch – the last bank in the town – last September due to customers using it less often. At the time it referred customers to the Badminton Road branch in Downend less than a mile away. But now Lloyds has announced that the Downend branch too will close, on 6th May. HSBC and Yorkshire Building Society still have a presence in Downend. Continued on page 3 Also in this Police target anti-social Regional transport plan Town council objects Last chance to comment behaviour at leisure park ignores residents’ to airport expansion on Hambrook junction week’s issue . page 4 objections . page 5 . page 6 trial . page 7 2 The Week in • Wednesday 5th February 2020 Shock as Hanham and Road safety plans outside school Soundwell residents are being invited to have their say on Downend branches of plans to improve safety for children walking to school. South Gloucestershire Council proposes to remove a set of two road humps and install a set of three speed cushions in Lloyds Bank to close Sweets Road, near St Stephen’s School. Also planned is a zebra crossing across Lansdown Road and Sweets Road. Continued from page 1 Having campaigned for improved safety measures around Lloyds says counters at Downend are 18% quieter than a year the school, Gagan Deep-Singh, whose daughter Gulnoor is ago. A total of 266 of its customers use the branch on a a pupil said: “I am delighted that South Gloucestershire regular monthly basis. Council is considering installing a new crossing and speed They are now being advised that the Fishponds branch is 1.6 humps, and want to thank them for listening to the miles away and that there are regular buses between community. Downend and Fishponds with the journey taking around 15 “Ensuring our children are safe when they walk to school minutes. is a massive reassurance to parents like myself as it gives Lloyds says customers can use their local Post Office for children more independence and more confidence by being many everyday banking transactions. Cash machines at both able to walk as well as giving parents more of a reason not banks will also close but Lloyds says there are nearby free- to drive the school run, thereby reducing risk around the school.” to-use cash machines in both Hanham and Downend. The two public consultations are now under way. Both Responding to the latest closures, financial services union close on 24th February. Visit the council’s website and Accord said: “These are the first closures to be announced search under ‘Consultations’ to have your say. The plans since August 2019 and the scale will take some by surprise. are also available to view at Kingswood One Stop Shop, “The overall level of staff reductions expected as a result of Kingswood Civic Centre and Staple Hill Library. the closures is under 80 (full-time equivalent) as many of the staff are expected to be redeployed into other branches. But every branch that closes, however small, has an impact on Hanham councillors June Bamford & Brenda Langley with traders’ representative Bernard our members and the bank’s customers. Jackson outside Lloyds “For our members, there’s the possibility of disruption to their working hours and work-life balance. And for ensure that they’re properly thought through and robustly customers, the inconvenience of getting used to where their evidenced. nearest Post Office is. “So far, all branch closures have been managed without “We fully appreciate that the demand for high street branch compulsory redundancies and Accord expects the same banking is diminishing as customers increasingly move to outcome here.” Gagan Deep-Singh with his daughter Gulnoor app-based banking but we’ll be examining LBG’s plans to See Letters, page 11 Investigation after planning complaint A controversial planning application affecting residents of Goldney Avenue in Warmley which we reported on in last week’s issue was not on the agenda for consideration by South Gloucestershire Council’s planning committee this week. The decision to vary a condition attached to a previous approval to build four houses on land to the rear of 22 London Road but accessed via Goldney Avenue has been ‘called in’ by the ward councillors Elizabeth and Sam Bromiley. As we have reported in previous editions, there have been ongoing issues over a right of way across part of the land. The application is now the subject of an official complaint and has been put on hold while South Gloucestershire Council’s Strategic Major Sites Team Manager investigates. The Week in • Wednesday 5th February 2020 3 Police target anti-social behaviour at Aspects Leisure Park Police have increased month. patrols at Aspects Leisure A spokesperson said: “We Park in Longwell Green received reports from a after reports of anti-social mother that her son and behaviour and thefts. three friends were victim of There have been problems attempted robbery at about with ‘boy racers’ in the 2.30pm on Saturday 18th underground car park at January. They were on their night as well as thieves pushbikes on a footbridge at stealing catalytic convertors Aspects Leisure Park near to from cars parked there. Asda and McDonald’s. Police say they have stepped “It involved a group of up patrols and that they youths, some of whom had Lipreading sessions understand the underground their faces covered who The article in last week’s issue about lipreading tutor Mary car park will be closed. asked for a ride on their Hall’s Wednesday morning classes at Warmley Community They are also asking for any pushbikes. The four cyclists Centre had an incorrect email address. information about an declined and rode off, She can be contacted at [email protected] or attempted robbery on a pursued by the group. The call/text on 0779 028 3939. bridge near the park last incident has been filed, pending further information being made available.” THE WEEK IN Anyone with information on the incident is asked to Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, contact 101 quoting Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, reference 5220013886. Corston, Downend, Emersons Green, Fishponds, Hanham, Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, Marksbury, North Common, Oldland Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, Warmley, Whitchurch, Wick, Willsbridge. 16,000 copies are distributed through retail outlets, libraries, pubs, community centres each week. Verified pick-up rate of 97%. Publisher Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd, 8 Temple Court, Keynsham. 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