KLS calls for Welsh Government support in fight to save bank

The chair of Keep Llangollen Special, Martin Crumpton, has sent an open letter to Wales' Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart, asking for the Welsh Government's support in the fight to prevent the closure of HSBC bank branches, including the one in Llangollen.

It says:

I write as Chair of Keep Llangollen Special, a Community Group, to raise our concerns regarding the controversial withdrawal of branch services by HSBC in Llangollen, Conwy and Beaumaris.

We have read the statement from HSBC in response to Mark Isherwood's approach to them assiduously. Our conclusion is that this matter goes far beyond local interest, even beyond being a Welsh National issue, but we urge you to bring this to the Senedd and issue a Statement.

* Edwina Hart AM.

The crux of HSBC's argument is that customers' shopping and behaviour is changing, largely switching to the Internet for banking and buying, although they acknowledge their branch closures will cause some hardship and have pledged some manner of support in those cases. We do not dispute that they incur costs in keeping branches open when, by their self-determined standards, they are underused.

The crux of our argument is that all businesses incur overheads - shops pay rent, rates, taxes, the cost of vehicles and their running costs and maintenance. The difference is that HSBC and other banks have the option of eliminating these overheads by transferring their customer-facing activities to the Internet.

When HSBC closed its Corwen branch, they said customers could be serviced in Llangollen. Isn’t that a kind of contractual obligation?

We note that HSBC is spearheading what the other big banks will also do; Barclays have announced 1,700 job losses and will also close branches. RBS will not be far behind. Soon there will only be branches in major cities; the progression is logical. The paradox is that other businesses make cuts due to economic hardship, but the high street banks (soon to be a redundant term) are back in record profits yet still reluctant to support and help the economies that bailed them out.

In short, branch closures are an exercise in maximising profits at the expense of their customers. So if the future of banking lies in a dependency upon the Internet, why choose HSBC, RBS or any of the so-called high street banks when there are more ethical competitors such as Metro Bank and mutuals such as building society banks?

Minister, we understand you have no means other than persuasion to prevent these and future branch closures, so we urge you to switch banks, just as we can all do, for the Welsh Government, and encourage Assembly Members, local authorities and staff to do likewise. We urge you to restore direct customer and finance relationships by promoting, encouraging and fostering Credit Unions all over Wales and set a shining example to the rest of the UK that customers, no matter what scale, personal or business, are not powerless.

On behalf of the undersigned, I ask for your earliest possible response.

With kind regards,

Martin Crumpton, Chairman of Keep Llangollen Special Community Group.

Chamber speaks out on bank closure

We have received the following press release:

Llangollen Chamber of Trade & Tourism is planning to object to the proposed closure of the HSBC Llangollen branch. 

 

All traders and residents are invited to register their objection by attending the celebration of 150 years of the branch in Llangollen and to hand in a letter of objection to the closure to Rachel Thomas, Regional Director, HSBC, Cardiff.   

   

In the November edition of the Llangollen News an advert from HSBC invited readers to come along on 21st November from 9.30am to 4.30pm and celebrate ‘An exhibition of memorabilia spanning over 150 years of banking at the Llangollen branch. All are welcome to attend’.  

 

Simon Collinge, spokesman for Llangollen Chamber of Trade & Tourism said,  

"This has been excellent timing by HSBC inviting residents and businesses to come along to the Llangollen branch to celebrate 150 years of trading. I’m sure the irony of the situation will not be missed by the HSBC bosses and a large turn-out of local traders and residents will clearly demonstrate the strong opposition to the proposed closure of such a popular branch’.  

 

At 12 noon a ceremony of “Tolling of the Bell” will take place and objectors have been invited to join in and bring a banner of objection to show the strength of feeling against this closure.  We will be presenting a Celebratory card to the Branch Manager with a request to keep the bank open for another 150 years.” 

 

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been pleased to receive sponsorship from Midland/ HSBC that has been broadcast in TV programmes all over the world. Llangollen Chamber of Trade cannot understand why HSBC should turn their backs on such a successful, peace promoting Town and HSBC’s international reputation as “a local bank” will undoubtedly be damaged. 

 

Local traders are mainly small businesses that rely heavily on being able to bank their takings and withdraw cash as well as receive advice.   A round trip to Wrexham for advice and to pay in takings is not a viable or safe option for our traders  and the majority of these account holders WOULD BE FORCED TO SWITCH to another bank . Similarly, many local charities and voluntary organisations are users of these facilities. The majority of these account holders are now considering switching to another bank in the town. 

 

Llangollen is a major tourist destination and our visitors from all over the world expect to see HSBC as a world-wide bank represented in our Town. 

 

Venue: HSBC Bank, Bridge Street, Llangollen 

Date: Thursday 21st November 

Time: 9.30am to 4.30pm. with “Tolling of the Bell “ and Card Presentation at 12noon. 

"Shabby and cynical treatment of loyal customers" by HSBC, says resident

Well-known Llangollen resident Gill Thomas has made the following statement about the proposed closure of the Llangollen branch of HSBC:  

 

"This has come as a huge shock to me and my family who have been involved with Midland / HSBC Bank for several generations.

 

"Indeed my husband and I worked at many branches in England and Wales. We have our business and personal accounts in Llangollen and we are responsible for several charity accounts held there.

 

"It is a sad irony that this month the Llangollen branch is celebrating 150 years in the town, and I feel desperately sorry for customers and staff.   

 

"The press release made by HSBC states that, ‘we need to ensure that our branches are in the right locations for our customers’. Well, as far as I am concerned it is in the right location.

 

"We visit the Llangollen branch several times a week to pay in and withdraw cash. Customers have been offered Chirk, Ruabon or Wrexham branches and the post office in Stans supermarket.

 

"We rarely go to Wrexham and travelling to Ruabon or Chirk is not an easy option for us. Using Chirk, Ruabon or Wrexham branches will also affect local shops and businesses as people will do their shopping etc in those towns instead of Llangollen.

 

"The Llangollen post office is in a small supermarket with limited parking, on the A5, an extremely busy and dangerous road.  The statement also refers to a dramatic downturn in customer footfall and a shift in customer shopping patterns.

 

"This is very puzzling as Llangollen has a thriving tourist industry attracting thousands of visitors throughout the year. A prime example is the International Eisteddfod in July which attracts 30,000 people to the area. 

 

"I can remember when the Midland and other local banks had branches on the Eisteddfod field, offering important services for national and international visitors and competitors. As a worldwide bank I would have thought being available to their overseas customers would offer HSBC a valuable advertising opportunity.  

 

"There are over three hundred small businesses and organisations in Llangollen, all requiring a variety of banking facilities. This leads me to suspect that this decision has nothing to do with footfall; rather there is not enough big business and industry in the town from which the bank can make large profits.

 

"Small business, personal and community accounts obviously do not generate enough profit for the shareholders. Even so, I don’t understand why the branch has to close completely. Surely, some provision could be arranged for the service to be offered on a part-time basis.  I

 

"I suspect we are all being forced into internet or telephone banking, which can be risky and a daunting prospect for some people.

 

"It should be mentioned here, that Beaumaris and Conwy are to suffer the same fate. This is shabby and cynical treatment of loyal customers and the bank should be ashamed of its actions."

Bank boss addresses concerns over branch closures

* The HSBC branch in Llangollen which is earmarked for closure.

An HSBC boss says the bank will do all it can to help anyone left with problems following the closure of its branch in Llangollen.

The assurance comes in an email to North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood who contacted HSBC earlier this week to voice his concerns about the impact the closure of the branches at Llangollen, Conwy and Beaumaris will have on local communities.

The statement sent to Mr Isherwood by Rachel K Thomas, Regional DirectorRetail Banking & Wealth Management, South West & Wales, says:

Dear Mr Isherwood

Thank you for your email dated 12th November regarding the closure of our Conwy, Llangollen and Beaumaris branches.

I understand the concerns that you’ve raised but please let me assure you that the decision to close these branches has not been taken lightly. 

We have very carefully assessed the sustainability of these premises, including a full study of customer activity at the branch and an evaluation of the options available to us that might help to restore a healthy level of business.

Whilst we recognise the value of our services to our customers at these branches, HSBC has a commitment to managing our business sustainably, efficiently and cost effectively. As we referenced in our first letter, changing banking habits mean that our customers are increasingly using telephone and internet banking, and this has had a knock-on effect on
footfall within our branch network.

Occasionally, as is the case with Conwy, Llangollen and Beaumaris we will have to make a difficult decision to close a branch in order to reflect these changing banking patterns and to remain successful in the long term.

As mentioned in my earlier letter, we are very conscious of the impact a branch closure can have on the elderly and people with mobility issues and we are determined to do as much as possible to mitigate these effects. 

For this reason I would be grateful if you could make me aware of any individual cases of difficulty that are raised with you so that we can arrange for appropriate assistance. HSBC branch staff are identifying customers who have problems accessing banking facilities and providing them with advice and practical solutions where appropriate.  This includes roviding 1-1 appointments to discuss future banking needs and resolving issues

surrounding how these can best be achieved, talking through alternative ways of doing their banking and providing training on internet, phone banking and debit card use, including using the ATM for withdrawing cash.

In addition, from Spring this year all nine million HSBC and first direct customers have been able to use the Post Office for cash withdrawals, cash deposits, cheque deposits and balance enquiries.  For Conwy, Llangollen and Beaumaris branches there is a Post Office within half a mile.

We  are  also  proactively  contacting  our  business  customers to discuss alternative  solutions with them such as arranging for cash to be collected and  sent  straight  to  the  cash  centre  or setting-up with Chip and Pin facilities.

Although I recognise your disappointment with our decision, I would point out that we have invested in our branch network. For example, Menai Bridge branch and Wrexham branch were refurbished in 2011 to improve their facilities and we have also previously refurbished Llandudno Mostyn Street and Colwyn Bay.

If you would prefer to discuss any of these issues during a meeting, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Again, I am sorry that we have had to take this very difficult decision, but I hope that I have explained the reasons for the closures.

Rachel K Thomas
Regional Director
Retail Banking & Wealth Management, South West & Wales
HSBC BANK PLC.

Get an inside view of ambulance services

* Take a look around a Clinical Contact Centre.  

 

* Meet the Hazardous Area Response Team from Bridgend.

 

* A 360 degree look inside an emergency ambulance.

 

MOST people who find themselves in the back of an ambulance have usually acquired a serious illness or injury.

But now you can get an exclusive sneak peek around a vehicle from the comfort of your own home.

The Welsh Ambulance Service has developed an interactive virtual tour that helps people better understand the role of frontline crews and the life-saving equipment they use.

For the first time, visitors to the Trust’s website can also take a 360 degree look around a busy Clinical Contact Centre, where 999 calls are received and vehicles are dispatched, as well as the Area Ambulance Centre in Bridgend, where the revered Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) is based.

See the specialist kit worn at the scene of industrial accidents and natural disasters, as well as chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and terrorist incidents, along with state-of-the-art vehicles used at major incidents.

Fiona Maclean, the Trust’s Community Involvement and Engagement Manager, said: “We want to demystify the Welsh Ambulance Service, and give the public a real insight into what we are about.

“We want to move away from the perception that we are simply a transport service, and encourage people to realise that actually we are a provider of high-quality healthcare comparable with the best.

“Our services are tailor-made for each community’s differing environmental and medical needs, from rapid response cars to emergency ambulances, to paramedics on the road and nurses in our Clinical Contact Centres.

“These tours prove just how clinically advanced we have become as a service.”

The tours were developed to coincide with NHS Wales’ Choose Well campaign, which encourages the public to re-think about what kind of medical attention they need when they are ill or injured.

For advice and treatment for non-emergencies and less serious conditions consider a visit to your local pharmacist, GP surgery, or call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47.

The Trust is reminding people to only dial 999 in a medical emergency when it is obvious that you or another person has a serious or life-threatening illness or injury and needs time-critical help.

Visit www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk for free, confidential health advice 24/7, and www.choosewellwales.org.uk for more information on the Choose Well campaign.

Go to the ‘What Do We Do?’ section at

www.ambulance.wales.nhs.uk to access the virtual tours. 

Latest local roadworks

Denbighshire County Council has given details of the following local roadworks:

A539 Llangollen Road, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights on November 21 to allow overhead service works.

A5 from area boundary to Queen Street, temporary traffic lights to until November 22 to allow wall repairs.

A5 Berwyn Street, temporary traffic lights until December 16 to allow the laying of new cables.

Oak Street, Llangollen, temporary road closure on Saturday, November 30 to allow Christmas Festival.

Dolafon Villas, Abbey Road, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights from November 25-27 to allow kerbing works.

Santa swaps sleigh for raft to shoot the Dee rapids

* Santa and his crew brave the rapids of the River Dee

to promote Llangollen’s Christmas Festival.

Picture by courtesy of Obrien Photography UK.

* A hairy moment for Santa and one of his elves.

Picture by courtesy of Obrien Photography UK.

SANTA shot the rapids on a fast-flowing River Dee to make a spectacular early visit to Llangollen on Tuesday.

The grand old man braved the raging waters to paddle his raft a couple of miles down the raging river accompanied by a team of his trusty helpers.

Their intrepid waterborne trip came as a prelude to the town’s annual Christmas Festival, which takes place this year on Saturday, November 30.

The raft was loaned especially for the occasion by locally-based White Water Tubing and on board was Santa himself, who bore an uncanny resemblance to former Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism John Palmer, his chief elf, who looked a lot like current chamber chairman Davis Davies, and a couple of deputy Santas one of whom was a lookalike for Llangollen town crier Austin Cheminais.

Santa said: “As the prospect of snow is not very promising, making it difficult for Rudolph and the rest of the team to pull me, I was looking for alternative ways of getting into Llangollen. 

“With all the rain we have had these last few weeks the river looked like a good alternative, so White Water Tubing offered to take me and a couple of elves to see if it was possible.

“We decided to start from the Horseshoe Falls to get some practice before the dreaded Town Falls and eventually reached Riverside Park.

“The water crashed and boiled but we battled on through.

“It was super fun and certainly beats dashing through the snow in one horse open sleigh.”

The Christmas Festival, which is expected to attract at least 2,000 people, will feature a parade, street stalls, raffles, a grotto, an appearance by Llangollen Silver Band, carol singing and the ceremonial switch-on of the Christmas lights.

 

The big parade starts from Mill Street car park at 1pm and later Santa and his Welsh counterpart Siôn Corn will be on hand to meet young visitors in their grotto inside the Town Hall.

Entertainment will this year be centred on the steps of the library and tourist information centre as well as in the Royal Gardens just across the road.

The Royal Hotel had given special permission for the shop at the corner of its premises to be used for Punch and Judy shows and story-telling sessions for youngsters.

Around 20 shops and businesses in the town had agreed to join in a search-for-the-sheep competition in which people will be asked to locate the small woollen animals and give each one a name.

The lights will be switched on at 5pm followed by a firework display.