Farron: bank closure will hit elderly and disabled

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has slammed HSBC's planned closure of its Windermere branch, pointing out that it would leave elderly and disabled customers without local bank access.

HSBC had stated that customers from Windermere could transfer to Kendal. However, the Kendal branch is situated at the top of a flight of steps and does not have disabled access.

If the closure goes ahead, customers with reduced mobility could end up travelling as far as Ulverston, Lancaster or Keswick in order to visit their nearest branch.

Tim has written again to HSBC to demand an explanation as to what it expects customers with reduced mobility to do if the closure goes ahead.

Tim said: "HSBC have either been negligent in not thinking this decision through, or they have been callous about the impact it will have on those with reduced mobility.

"For disabled or elderly customers who cannot climb the steep steps to the branch in Kendal, transferring here is simply not an option.

"A bank that once proudly claimed to be 'the world's local bank' is leaving customers from Windermere to travel as far as Lancaster to access their nearest branch."