New banking hub for Ware is announced

from Axis magazine August 2023 issue

Ritchie’s wine notes

Ware is to get a new banking hub, the UK’s cash access and ATM network, Link, announced in July. The decision follows lobbying from Hertford and Stortford MP Julie Marson and Ware Town Council.

The hub, which is likely to be open within a year, will be a shared banking space, similar to a traditional bank branch but which customers of any bank can use. It will consist of a counter service operated by Post Office employees where customers of any bank can withdraw or deposit cash, make bill payments and carry out regular banking transactions. There will also be private spaces where, on alternating days, staff from specific banks will be available so that customers can speak to staff from their own bank. In 2021 the banking industry agreed that following the closure of any bank branch, Link will identify whether a community requires further cash services. Communities can also contact Link directly and ask to be assessed for support which could take the form of a banking hub, of which there are now seven so far across the UK.

Ware lost its last bank branch in 2020.

How the banking hub could look: This is one open in Acton, west London

And the situation became worse in January when Morrisons decided to close its Martin’s newsagents in the High Street which had housed a Post Office branch providing the town with its last remaining access to banking services.

Ms Marson worked with the Post Office to identify retailers who might be able to partner it and restore services in the area. As a result, a new Post Office was set to open on 1st August in half of the former Martin’s premises alongside a UOE stationery store.

The MP also met with Link in June and asked them to consider Ware for a banking hub.

She said: “I am grateful that Link has acted on my request for a banking hub in Ware. This will

Grant will help develop plan for castle grounds

make a big difference to local people and to our town.” l See Julie Marson MP’s column on page 12.

Ms Marson said she had also requested that Link assess Hertford and Sawbridgeworth. Sawbridgeworth lost its last bank in 2018. Hertford has recently lost its Barclays branch and HSBC with Natwest set to close this month on 15th August.

Ware’s banking hub will be delivered by Cash Access UK which will now consider possible sites and fit out its chosen premises. The process typically takes 12 months from Link’s recommendation so the facility ought to be open by summer 2024.

More time to comment on ticket office closure plans

A public consultation over plans to close almost all ticket offices at railway stations across England has been extended to 1st September.

The plans were announced at the beginning of July by the Rail Delivery Group which represents mainline train companies. The consultation was due to end in the last week of July.

But in the face of a fierce backlash from rail users, unions and disability groups, among others, the consultation has now been extended to 1st September.

Rail companies say the way people buy tickets has changed markedly over the past decade with fewer tickets bought through offices and more purchased online or via ticket machines.

They say closing the offices would free up staff to undertake a more flexible role assisting customers around stations.

But opposition to the plans has been stiff.

In its formal response to the consultation, Hertfordshire County Council highlighted a number of concerns raised by local residents including how tickets only available from ticket offices can be purchased in future, a reduction in the support available for passengers who require assistance and the effect on the perception of safety for lone travellers, particularly women travelling alone at night.

The council’s executive member for Highways and Transport, Cllr Phil Bibby, said the council was “concerned that the proposed closures will make it harder for some people to take the train, and at a time when we’re trying to encourage more people to use public transport, this isn’t something we can support.”

Both Great Northern Rail and Greater Anglia say that station opening times would not change and no station would go from having staff to being unmanned. But Greater Anglia says that as a result of the changes, at some stations staff will be available for fewer hours than they currently are – at Hertford East and Ware for example.

You can find out more, along with details of how to take part in the consultation, at greateranglia.co.uk and greatnorthernrail.com.

Plans to improve the grounds of Hertford Castle have moved a step forwards with the awarding of a £300,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The award will enable East Herts Council and Hertford Town Council to fully develop and cost proposals for a project which they hope will improve access to the site, promote its rich history and increase biodiversity.

Once detailed plans have been developed the organisations will be able to apply for a reserved £2million ‘delivery’ grant to bring the plans to life.

Proposals include refurbishing the Ashley Webb shelter, a new cantilever walkway from the town centre along the riverbank which would allow the ancient motte to be opened up, and a new bridge.

Housing plan in for Hoddesdon car park

Broxbourne Council has submitted a planning application seeking approval to redevelop the Burford Street car park in Hoddesdon town centre into housing.

The local authority is proposing building a four storey apartment building on the site which would contain 17 flats intended to be used as transitional (short-term) housing. There would also be communal facilities, an office, basement-level parking and landscaping.