The news that Halifax in Crouch End is set to close in April is another blow for customers, local businesses and our Crouch End high street.  Every day across the country we’re seeing banks and Post Offices close their doors, replaced by pay-to-use ATMs, making it harder and more expensive for people to access their own cash.

It’s disastrous for the millions who still rely on cash for almost every transaction and it comes as banks continue to report ever bigger profits.  This is the fourth bank or building society to leave Crouch End in recent years, and during my Parliamentary debate on our high streets before Christmas I highlighted the harmful impact of bank closures.

Last year I urged the Financial Conduct Authority to change the rules around bank closures to give a greater voice to the local community and I’ll keep pushing the government to act to defend access to cash.

Read the Ham & High’s piece about the news here.

Read my columns about the need to defend our high streets and defend access to cash.