Labour’s parliamentary candidate, Alice Macdonald and Labour’s local representatives in Mile Cross have written to HSBC to urge the bank not to go ahead with the closure of its Mile Cross Branch. 

In a letter sent to the Chief Executive of HSBC, Ms Macdonald and Norwich city councillors Cllr Jake Huntley, Cllr Vivien Thomas, Cllr Vaughan Thomas and County councilor Chrissie Rumsby said ‘This branch provides vital services to residents in Mile Cross and we urge you to rethink its closure.’

They drew attention to the fact that over a quarter (27%) of customers rely on branch-only banking at Mile Cross and that the nearest HSBC branch is nearly 3 miles away in the city centre. They also underlined that the closure would have a disproportionate impact on older, disabled and financially excluded people. 

The Mile Cross branch is one of 4 branches across Norfolk that has been earmarked for closure in an announcement made last week. In the middle of a cost of living crisis, access to financial services is more important than ever.