In a triumphant moment for one of our coastal communities battling the tide of digital banking, Hoylake, Meols and Central West Kirby Ward Councillor Max Booth officially unveiled the permanent West Kirby Banking Hub a few weeks ago. The ribbon-cutting ceremony underscores the local Conservative campaign's relentless push to safeguard cash access amid widespread high-street bank closures, delivering a vital lifeline for residents and businesses on the Wirral Peninsula.
The event, held at Unit 2, Hilbre Sands on Dee Lane. Presiding over the opening, Cllr Booth declared: “It’s great to see the West Kirby Banking Hub open. Banks are and still should be a critical feature of the modern economy, and we all know how important local banking services are.” His words highlighted the hub's role in preserving community vitality, a key plank of the Conservative effort to combat "banking deserts" in rural and coastal areas.
Operated by not-for-profit Cash Access UK and funded by major banks including Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest, Santander, and TSB, the hub offers counter services run by Post Office staff. Open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., it supports everyday transactions like cash withdrawals, deposits, cheque cashing, and bill payments for customers of any major bank or building society. For complex needs such as account management or fraud queries, a rotating Community Banker service provides private consultations with representatives from local banks each weekday.
The opening marks a hard-fought win for local Conservatives, who amplified resident concerns following the 2024 closure of NatWest's Banks Road branch—the town's last high-street outpost. Cllr Booth and his colleagues (Cllr Cox and Cllr Gardner) campaigned vigorously for intervention, aligning with LINK's nationwide £15 million pledge to create 100 banking hubs by 2025. "This is about ensuring no one is left behind in a cashless society," Cllr Gardner emphasised, crediting community advocacy and council support for accelerating the timeline.
The journey began in July 2023 when NatWest announced the closure due to a 40% drop in footfall from online banking shifts. LINK swiftly identified West Kirby as a priority, delaying the shuttering to August 29, 2024, and launching a temporary hub at Westbourne Community Centre. Cash Access UK CEO Gareth Oakley praised the interim site: “Local residents can now enjoy access to cash and face-to-face banking services once again.” The permanent venue, refurbished in a new retail development by Starship, integrates modern accessibility features near independent shops and the Marine Lake.
Residents and businesses have celebrated the Conservative-led initiative: “Finally, no more treks to Heswall for a simple deposit,” one X post read, while small traders praised easier cash handling for cafes and bakers etc. For West Kirby, it's a testament to collaborative action—from LINK's assessments and Cash Access UK's delivery to local businesses, groups and residents supporting the local Conservatives Councillors advocacy that turned calls for cash access into concrete reality.
Read more on the West Kirby Banking Hub here: West Kirby Banking Hub Post Office® | West Kirby | CH48 0AB
