NORTHUMBERLAND MPs have called for action on so-called “banking deserts” in the county as more and more towns and villages lose access to high-street branches.

During a debate in the House of Commons brought by Hexham MP Joe Morris on Monday (September 2), concern was expressed about the significant loss of banks from the county’s streets in recent years.

Speaking as Parliament returned following summer recess, Mr Morris said that more than 70 per cent of branches in his constituency had been lost in less than a decade.

Fellow Northumberland MPs Ian Lavery, David Smith and Emma Foody also weighed in on the issue. The Economic Secretary to the Treasury said he was “determined” to address the problem.

Speaking in parliament, Mr Morris said: “There are banking deserts across the country, with many people shut off from accessing very basic face-to-face services. Northumberland has lost more than half of its bank branches since 2015, and figures from Which? show that Hexham has lost over 70 per cent of its branches, with only five branches remaining in the constituency.

“These bank branch closures do not just mean an inconvenience to my constituents; they present a toxic cocktail that both damages quality of life and holds back the growth of our rural economy.

“The compassion, expert support and guidance that bank branches provide to our constituents cannot be allowed to disappear as an inevitable consequence of having better digital services. Closures let down our young people who want to start businesses but find it hard to do so due to their inability to have face-to-face discussions, as well as our older people who find access to cash hard to come by.

“In some cases, they have to trek across rural Northumberland on public transport to reach their closest branch. I am reminded of a 74-year-old constituent who was forced to travel from Wark to Morpeth on three separate occasions in order to have a face-to-face conversation.”

Blyth and Ashington MP Ian Lavery said the problem did not just affect rural areas.
He said: “It is not just rural Northumberland that is suffering. We have banking deserts in Bedlington, Blyth, Ashington, Newbiggin and other areas.

“Vulnerable people are suffering greatly where the banks have just up and left without any accountability. We must take immediate action to look after these vulnerable people.”

Cramlington and Killingworth MP Emma Food added: “In my constituency, the impact of bank closures is felt acutely in the Seaton Valley area. People from villages such as Seghill, Seaton Delaval, Seaton Sluice and Hartley have to travel on several buses to find the banking services to which they so desperately need ready access.

“It is unacceptable that the vulnerable and elderly residents he described have to travel, sometimes for hours on multiple buses, to access such services.”

David Smith, who represents the North Northumberland constituency, also raised the issue of post office closures.

He said: “I draw attention to the correlated issue of Post Offices. In Wooler North Northumberland, where there are no bank branches, the Post Office, which provides the only banking services for that community, is also at risk of closure.

“Thankfully, an incredible community response, led by the Glendale Gateway Trust, is fighting to retain it. I will do everything in my power, too.

“Banking hubs more generally, and the Post Office specifically, must be part of the solution to the lack of access to banking services in Northumberland.”

Responding to the concerns raised, Economic Secretary to the Treasury Tulip Siddiq said: “I know that this issue affects many of our constituents, and members are absolutely right to champion it.

“This is an issue that is close to my heart, and one that I am determined to try to address. It is a privilege to be able to use this office to tackle some of the country’s most important issues.

“Ensuring access to banking and supporting financial inclusion featured very highly in our manifesto, which all Labour Members were elected on. We want to ensure that our constituents manage to access the services that they deserve.”