Wadebridge cash hub plan moves a step closer, with a catch

Getting hold of cash in Wadebridge could soon be easier. A temporary “Cash Hub” is being lined up for the town, although the MP who has been campaigning for it says it falls short of what residents really need.

What has been confirmed

Ben Maguire MP has shared that Cash Access UK has confirmed steps are being taken towards a temporary Cash Hub being installed in Wadebridge.

Nothing is signed off yet. According to Ben, Wadebridge Town Council is very supportive of improving cash access, but it has not made a formal decision on the proposal. Discussions with Cash Access UK are ongoing, and the plan will need to go before the Town Council first.

If it is approved, the hub would give residents and businesses better access to essential cash services while longer-term arrangements are put in place.

A “first win” after months of campaigning

Ben called the hub a first win. He said it follows months of campaigning, including meeting LINK in person to make the case for the town.

But he has been clear that it isn’t the full Banking Hub he believes Wadebridge needs.

Why the MP says rural towns lose out

The sticking point, as Ben sees it, is the way banking hub decisions are made.

“The criteria for a banking hub is not designed for rural areas like ours, as it doesn’t account for any villages more than 3+ miles from Wadebridge town centre,” he said.

He says he is pushing the banking minister to change this while a national review is ongoing.

What happens next

Ben says he will keep making sure residents’ needs and views are fed into LINK’s ongoing reassessment. He would like to see the temporary hub made permanent and upgraded into a full Banking Hub, with visiting bank staff and expanded face-to-face banking services.

He thanked Wadebridge Town Council for finding a suitable location so quickly, and Rosie Moore, councillor for Wadebridge East and St Minver, for her support.

A petition supporting the campaign for a full Banking Hub in Wadebridge is being shared via Ben’s Facebook page. The Cash Hub proposal itself still has to clear the Town Council.

📷A Post Office Banking Hub elsewhere in the UK