We spoke to businesses in Earlestown about devastating energy bills and no banks

All the town centre’s bank branches have closed, with Newton West Labour Councillors responding to this with an application submission for possible bank hubs to be installed in Earlestown.

Following this announcement, we visited businesses in the town centre to hear about their thoughts on possible bank hubs.

We also discussed their situation with energy bills, which has become a huge issue for traders across the country.

Margaret Holland, owner of Celebrations shop on Bridge Street, said: "We do need a bank. I struggle because I was with Barclays and it's been shut, so I've got nowhere to go.

'We need some kind of banking system'

"I think the town needs some kind of a banking system; it's terrible for shopkeepers and businesses because there's nowhere to bank.

"There are three empty banks, we don't know what’s going on with them, but perhaps that's something that should've been looked at before they all closed down."

Margaret has had the shop on Bridge Street for 22 years (Image: Catrin Jones)

Sophie McKenzie, deputy manager at Extra Care charity shop on Market Street, supported the possible bank hubs for the town centre.

She said: "That would actually be brilliant. It's not too bad going to the post office because we get change whilst we're there, but the more services that are available to do that the better.

"We used them all the time because we banked with Lloyds. We went to get change, so it was a pain when it shut."

The charity shop now has to use the Post Office since Lloyds Bank closed (Image: Catrin Jones)

Paula Coan, owner of Town Furnishings, said that bringing new banks into the town centre is something she has been saying for the last four years as business has gone quiet since the TSB bank branch shut.

Paula and her husband own Town Furnishings on Bridge Street (Image: Catrin Jones)

Soaring bills

Meanwhile,businesses have also had to take measures into their own hands with switching to cheaper utilities, including Funky Bunch florist owner Pamela Lewis.

She said: "I moved back in here in August and I made sure everything was cheaper to run. I changed all the light fittings; it just saves money."

She also supported the idea of introducing bank hubs in the town centre as the Post Office is closed on Saturday; the busiest day for retail businesses.

Single mum Pamela owns Funky Bunch on Market Street (Image: Catrin Jones)

Volkan Zirekoglu took over the business at Market Street’s Fish Diner in December 2020, however, he mentioned he was worried as his energy bills have gone up nearly 300 per cent.

He also said that banks were a reason for people to come into town.

Volkan said: "It was the reason people came into town. Just on this side, nearly 10 shops are closed, so people now don’t have a reason to come here.

"I think council need to make something for people to come here, so the business can pay the rent and staff wages."

Volkan is worried about the rising costs to keep the shop running (Image: Catrin Jones)

Tracy Dennis, shop assistant at Meadow Barbeque, explained what measures the business has had to take to survive.

She said: "Our electricity bill is massive anyway. We have gradually had to put our prices up generally because our suppliers have been putting their prices up, so we’re going to have to keep putting it up to level it out but hopefully the government do something.

"I don’t know how it’s going to affect businesses in the long term."

Meadow Barbeque has had to increase prices to keep up with rising costs (Image: Catrin Jones)