A reminder that if anyone wishes to ensure their questions are heard at the Save the Bank meeting they can submit them through the website (go to News page)
Any other questions about the campaign can be sent through the site too.

SAVE WHITCHURCH BANK

SAVE WHITCHURCH BANK PUBLIC MEETING
8.00pm Thursday 10th December 2009
Testbourne Theatre Hall

John
Save Whitchurch Bank team

Hi all if you can please attend the PUBLIC MEETING this THURSDAY AT 8 very positive action for WHITCHURCH RESIDENTS guest speakers will be there with interesting ideas to help us and enjoy a cuppa with us SWB committee thanks from CHRISTINE

What a fantastic well-attended meeting that was.
Sir George's opening remarks were well made...

"This has been a very vigorous, very positive, and very professional campaign"

And, although it is early days, there is the chance of some very good news for Whitchurch as a result.

For a report see:
PUBLIC MEETING SUCCESS

John
Save Whitchurch Bank team

If anyone wants any information leaflets about banking services at the Post Office, other bank current accounts, or the Newbury building society please let me know.

I have a large bag of them *:)

Rgds.,
Nick.

Our local MP, Sir George Young, has added a news item about the public meeting he spoke at to his Constituency News webpage.

Our thanks again to Sir George for speaking at the meeting, for his efforts to help save the bank, and his public offer of support to the Newbury Building Society.

~Andrew~

The January 2010 issue of the consumer magazine Which? has an article about a new 'Banking Commission' that it has set up.

It says the commission will include senior politicians, industry figures and financial experts; formal sessions will start in early 2010. A new website where the public can register its views is online now:

Britain Needs Better Banks
http://www.bnbb.org

~Andrew~

It was reported by Working 4 Whitchurch (Phil Cooper) and Bill Judge that the Co-op has confirmed an ATM to be installed 'in the area'.

I have just had a call-back from their head office* and they say that it is NOT yet confirmed, although it is looking 'very positive' with a decision due in late January. I asked why different information was given to the others and they did not know. The information I was given is the correct status they said as it came from the head of the ATM group.

Sorry for the confusion, although I take encouragement from their 'very positive' statement.

~Andrew~
(member of Save Whitchurch Bank campaign)

*I had been waiting for a response for a few days after ringing through to various departments, finally getting to the correct department. Along the way, more people in Co-Op have learned that there are 9 Whitchurches in the UK and also now know a bit more about the one we all love the most!

Happy new year to one and all.I wrote to Santa and asked him if we could have a bank here in Whitchurch in 2010 as we have all been GOOD all LAST YEAR he said maybe we will be lucky im away when it closes for the last time but would like to take this opportunity to say thanks and good luck to my friends Alison and Bobby.Im still mad has hell they cant stay here with us CB

YIPPEE SMILE
See:
SAVE WHITCHURCH BANK

The Co-op are planning to install plans show an external ATM as part of their refurbishment of the Somerfield store. It is to be on the wall to the right of the existing door - which itself will be moved.
The Save Whitchurch Bank team has been in communication with the Co-op over their plans and are pleased that they have now confirmed their commitment they are thinking about [s]to[/s] having 24/7 ATM. Everyone who have supported the campaign are to be commended.

Details of the application can be found here.
BDB/71805

If you support the ATM please let the Council know.

John
Save Whitchurch Bank team

You are eagle-eyed John!

I have posted pics from the planning application over in our Whitchurch Plans and Development Forum HERE.

~Andrew~

I am in contact with the Co-op, who said just now to me 'we have not confirmed anything as of yet'.

So let's not pop the champagne just yet.

~Andrew~

...so any claims to have 'promises' from the Co-Op should be taken with a pinch of (crushed-up water-softener) salt?

.... and I should not be so enthusiastic
I 'promise' I'll take more care next time.

...and now we have the strike through function fixing tosh editing is much more clear

John B

It was obvioulsy sensible for them to include the ATM in the one planning application but it does not imply a commitment to install it.

Pop the champagne! Confirmation just received from the Co-Op.

Keep the other bottle on ice in case the planning process turns up something, though...


1. Can you now confirm that an ATM will be on the wall as shown in the submitted plans?
Co-Op: Yes

2. Could you clarify why the ‘existing’ plans show an ATM already there, when in actual fact it is just a brick wall? (similarly for the metal shutter door – it’s just a brick wall with an access door right now).
Co-Op: It may have been requested previously by Somerfield, or a previous owner and we are re-submitting in line with our normal processes.

3. Will a conservation zone application also be submitted soon?
Co-Op: Yes – This will be submitted by our property teams to comply with planning requirements

4. Is there an anticipated date for the conversion of the store?
Co-Op: Currently we are planning a conversion of the store in Q3 2010.

'Its now shut' - and with that the front door to the HSBC branch in Whitchurch, Hampshire was locked by Bobbie and Alison at 3:30pm today.

The Save Whitchurch Bank committee's chairman, and our Town Mayor, Councillor Vince Bradbury, presented Alison and Bobbie each with a beautiful boquet of flowers arranged by Flower Power.

After several hugs, 'thank you's and wishes of future success, they re-entered the branch to help with the close-down. Money was counted for the last time and the IT crew moved in to dismantle all the equipment (except the ATM).

Someone laid a wreath, and a RIP notice was put on the door.

I passed by the branch again around 6pm and saw the pair leaving, for the last time. They had several bouquets in their hands which other residents had presented to them.

A big THANK YOU goes out to everyone in town who helped to try to prevent this closure - there is at least some consolation in the successes achieved along the way...
- the retention of the (world's lowest?) ATM
- offers of personal workshops to help HSBC customers affected by the closure
- a transformed, updated Newbury Society branch with an even brighter future (we hope!)
- a free ATM replacing the fee based one at Burnaby Stores on Micheldever Road (next week, I hear)
- a new ATM when the Co-Op redesigns the Somerfield

~Andrew~

The website has been updated with pictures and a report, as well as details of a site visit to the proposed new ATM!
SAVE WHITCHURCH BANK

Hi all what a sad sight to see our last bank in Whitchurch close for the last time.i have been on holiday and kept up to speed with what was going on via the internet forum pages.i visited the bank weekly and already it is causing me problems with paying in cheques etc so hope bank X WHO EVER THEY MAY BE gets here sooner rather than later.CHRISTINE.

Hi all again the HSBC ATM has a out of order notice on it was anybody told who to contact to let whoever know there is a problem with the machine?The staff dealt with this in the past.Wonder how anyone would know if it was out of order or indeed if anyone actually cared.

Hi Chris

I have emailed our HSBC contact last night.

<update Monday 10am: our HSBC contact is looking into this "as a matter of urgency">

Cheers

Mike

...and I chatted with the chap in the doorway over the weekend when they were stripping out the interior. Sorry for not posting this earlier...

He said that it is standard procedure for them to have the cash machine emptied before his wrecking crew (my words) undertake their job. He said the machine should be back in order "sometime AFTER Monday".

He also confirmed to me that his crew had found no extra money lying about the place (I had to ask).

~Andrew~

Hot off the e-press from HSBC:

"Please can I assure you that this is only a temporary situation and is a result of the administration of the cash machine being undertaken by an external security company who will ensure the provision of this service following the closure of our branch facilities.

I would like to extend my sincere apologies to you and the other customers in the local community affected by this inconvenience. I expect our cash machine to be back in service in the coming days once this necessary transition has been completed. "

Cheers

Mike

Excellent - and today the machine is back on line.

SAVE WHITCHURCH BANK

John

The effect of the closure on the Town Hall is a subject to be discussed at the next meeting of the Town Hall Trustees (Mon 22 Feb 2010) - see HERE.

~Andrew~

Minor Update:
The Town Hall Trustees have met to discuss the use of the now closed premises:

SAVE WHITCHURCH BANK

John B

MAJOR UPDATE

Late last year the Newbury Building Society was approached by a High Street bank ('Bank X'), who had seen the coverage of our banking crisis and were interested in a shared banking scheme in Whitchurch.

Discussions have now progressed, and 'Bank X' have asked the Save Whitchurch Bank team to gather feedback from all local businesses on what banking services they would like to see provided through the Newbury Building Society branch. This opportunity also applies to all individuals who may wish to consider transferring their banking to a local outlet.
For details see:
SAVE WHITCHURCH BANK

Well that about right HSBC PROFIT 11 BILLION pounds at what cost to us who lost their last bank in town in 2010 they should have put their customers first but greed is a deadly sin and sadly is not going to go away.

Guess it's good for most of our pension funds ....
Now that BP has gone to pot ...

p.s. I have been using the HSBC branch in Overton.
Only a short car trip.

Follow-up to Mike's posting over in the Video Shop RIP thread....

The HSBC windows are now tidy once again - looks like some kind of white plastic added to inside of windows. Now if only we could see the place reopen and the windows cleared! And keep the ATM!

~Andrew~