Knaresborough banking hub location revealed

The new banking hub in Knaresborough will be located at 15 Kirkgate, Bowling Green Yard, it was announced today.

The hub will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions.

However, an opening date is still yet to be revealed.

It will also provide a community banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Community bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week. They are usually provided by the banking providers with the most customers in the local area.

Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect nationwide access to cash, revealed details of the hub today following longstanding concerns about bank closures in Knaresborough.

The process of finding a banking hub in Knaresborough has taken a while to come to fruition. There were hopes it would happen last year.

Gareth Oakley, chief at Cash Access UK:

“We know the new banking hub has been eagerly anticipated by the local community and so we’re delighted we’ve now been able to secure a fantastic location for you in the heart of the community.

“This brings us a significant step closer in being able to deliver improved access to cash services to individuals and businesses in Knaresborough”.

Nick Garrett, of the community benefit society Knaresborough Connectors: said the hub would reduce financial exclusion, adding:

“Many of Knaresborough’s frail residents tell us they prefer services, especially financial ones, to be face to face as online services aren’t accessible.”

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Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough said:

“When the hub opens it will be invaluable to residents of Knaresborough, especially to those who rely on cash and face-to-face banking.”

Charlotte Gale, of Knaresborough and District Chamber said:

“Better banking and cash access within the town is something chamber are very passionate about. This is something we’ve long campaigned for and we’re thrilled that a site has now been secured.”

Cash Access UK is owned and funded by 10 of the UK’s biggest banking providers: Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money.

These firms have come together to provide shared services available to all their customers.

 

Business Breakfast: Manager appointed to Knaresborough’s new community bank

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Newcastle Building Society has appointed Heather Pearman to manage its new community branch in Knaresborough which opened in July.

Since the last bank in the town was closed in 2021,  the building society said it had worked closely with the borough and county councils to restore banking access.

The building society said its community branch, inside Knaresborough library, showed its commitment to maintaining a high street presence across North Yorkshire.

Heather Pearman joins with over 10 years’ experience in financial services, having previously worked for Knaresborough’s Bradford & Bingley and Santander branches for 15 years.

She said:

“The people of Knaresborough have been crying out for the return of financial services to this thriving market town and we hope the arrival of our community branch will deliver the essential support they’ve been missing.

“After some time away from Knaresborough it’s a privilege to return to the town I love, and engage with some of the familiar and new faces that make this town such a jewel in North Yorkshire’s crown.

I look forward to integrating our new community branch into the heart of Knaresborough and delivering the much-needed local financial facilities for people and businesses in our area.”

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Harrogate solicitors, McCormicks, is the main sponsor for this year’s 28th annual Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards.

The awards mark the achievements of outstanding young people aged under 35 and nominations are now open. Organisers say the winners don’t need to be famous, they can be completely unknown but have achieved something amazing for themselves or their community.

Chairman Peter McCormick OBE said: “This year has already seen some terrific achievements by young people from Yorkshire but we want to hear about more!”

The Awards dinner will be held for the first time since 2019 on Thursday 17 November at the Centenary Pavilion at Leeds United’s Elland Road ground and is the main fundraiser for the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation which makes grants to young people and organisations supporting them across the region.

The nomination categories are as follows:

The Awards have raised more than £1.3m for young people and projects helping them across the region and anyone nominate a potential winner. Simply visit the Awards website at www.yorkshireyoungachievers.co.uk. The closing date for entries is Friday 2 September.

Former Knaresborough NatWest bank to become bar and restaurant after licence granted

The former Natwest bank in Knaresborough is to be turned into an independent bar and restaurant after a premises licence was granted for the venue.

It will reopen as Claro Social – a collaboration between Knaresborough brewery Turning Point Brew Co and Harrogate bar Major Tom’s Social.

A licence for the High Street venue – which closed as a bank in 2017 – was granted at a meeting of Harrogate Borough Council’s sub-licensing committee today despite concerns from neighbouring residents and businesses. Carol Rees, a director at marketing company Allott and Associates, which is based on the first floor of the building, said:

“I’m particularly concerned about the safety issue of leaving our offices and people potentially being drunk and disorderly on a night.
“I have concerns about noise. And I’m also concerned about the opportunities for crime and disorder.”

A total of 12 residents wrote in objection to the application which covers the sale of alcohol, food and entertainment. Councillor Christine Willoughby, the mayor of Knaresborough, said she was contacted by some residents “in fear” of what is proposed.

“Everything I have heard today really convinces me that this fear is real..
“This is the fear of disruption to residents’ everyday lives through noise from the rear terrace. Ideally, I think the answer would be to not have the terraced area at all.”

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The council granted planning permission for a change of use of the building in August last year.

Cameron McQueen, co-owner of Turning Point Brew Co, said food and drink deliveries will be limited, CCTV installed and that customers will only be allowed to enter the building from the front entrance on High Street.
Mr McQueen also said the bar and restaurant would have a “family friendly” atmosphere:

“The site has been unoccupied for quite some time and we would really like the opportunity to give it a new lease of life.
“There will be no smoking on site whatsoever – and that includes our rear outside area.
“We have a brewery a couple of miles away so if necessary we will be more than happy to receive deliveries to our brewery site and then deliver once or twice a week to minimise the impact on residents and businesses.
“We are also more than happy to conduct a sound study on the building to see what an appropriate level of noise is.”

The licence was granted with opening hours of noon until 11.30pm every day.

There were also conditions attached which mean the rear terrace area of the building must shut by 9pm.

Mr McQueen added:

“We are really excited at the prospect of moving in and getting started on this project.
“Our interest is to open a business here, but at the end of the day we also want to get on well with our neighbouring businesses and residents.”