South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes meets Halifax bosses to discuss Spalding branch closure

Banking bosses have been challenged over plans to shut a town centre branch by the area’s MP.

Lloyds Banking Group has announced that it will be shutting the Halifax branch in Bridge Street, Spalding, in April next year due to ‘customers choosing to control their finances via their computers and smartphones’.

South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes has met senior figures from Halifax to discuss the closure which has been branded a ‘tragedy’ by key figures in the town.

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Sir John said “In a meeting I insisted upon with Halifax Building Society staff in Westminster, I expressed my constituents’ disappointment with the planned closure which I told them I oppose strongly. It is vital that people in our area will still have direct personal access to essential services if Halifax insist on closing the Spalding branch.

“I told Halifax that the least people should expect is assurances about protecting customers’ ability to pay in and withdraw money in person, as well as access the usual range of services people require in face-to-face banking.

“I have also asked Halifax to let me know about the possibility of mobile services in other parts of South Holland further away from Spalding, given the number of customers who are some distance from a physical branch into which they can go. I will pursue Halifax until we get what matters to many people – the promise of Halifax staff available at a central location each and every week.”

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