Edward Argar MP Member of Parliament for Charnwood

Writing this article a week or so after the County Council and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, I wanted to congratulate Tom Barkley and James Poland, who both represent parts of our town in County Hall, on their re-election, and to Rupert Matthews on his election as Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner. I have worked closely with Tom and James since I was first elected in 2015, and their service to our community is well-known. I also look forward to working with Rupert, particularly on ensuring our towns and villages get the visible policing they need. 

Standing for public office at any level, from Town or Parish Councillor, to MP, entails a real commitment to the community that you aspire to be elected by and to serve, so it is also right that I pay tribute to the sense of public service, and commitment, of all those candidates who put themselves forward for election on 6th May, irrespective of whether they were elected or not – our communities are the better for all of their contributions and dedication.

Turning to a very concerning local issue, which first arose in late March, I, like many other Syston residents, am strongly opposed to Santander’s plans to close their branch in our town in the summer, as one of 111 branch closures they are planning. Santander wrote to me on 25th March informing me of their plans, and I wrote back to their Chief Executive that same day putting a number of questions to him, and setting out my strong opposition. Disappointingly, over a month on I am yet to receive a response from him.

While I recognise that banks, as private businesses, have to take in to consideration a number of factors, including commercial / financial ones, in determining the viability of their branches, I have to say that I think Santander have made completely the wrong decision in the case of Syston’s branch.
I have challenged their Chief Executive on the impact that their proposed closure will have on older or vulnerable people who may not be able to travel to another branch and, however excellent our local Post Office is in providing banking services, still need to access a branch; on what their proposals mean for the branch staff who are such an important part of the community; access to cash points; the impacts on businesses needing to pay in / take out cash; and more broadly the responsibility I believe banks have to the community they serve and which banks with them. Not only is the branch an important service, and a draw to Melton Road which helps bring people in to shop locally, but given the growth in our town, and the lack of other bank branches, I would argue it also makes commercial sense for them to stay in our town.

I will continue pursuing Santander executives for both a reply to my questions in my letter, but also for a meeting when I will continue to urge them to pause and rethink what I believe is the wrong decision on so many levels. I will update Stn readers when I receive any news.