The decision by Barclays Bank to close its Brentwood High Street branch on 21st May this year has been a blow to local Barclays customers. The closure comes a year or so after Barclays in Shenfield closed, while the branches in Ingatestone and Ongar have been shut for some time.
Sadly, the bank has based it decision to close on ‘customer behaviour and data’ which shows there has been a 74% reduction in counter transactions in Brentwood since 2017, with 91% of people who have used the bank in the past now accessing services online, by phone or through the Barclays app.
I met with the regional team from Barclays last week, to be told that an average of just 14 people use the bank in Brentwood exclusively for transactions now. I’ve been assured that the local staff have reached out to those 14 people and shown them how they can make those same transactions at a Post Office branch instead.
Businesses now have the option to have their cash collected direct from their premises using an online booking service, thus ending the old way some of our smaller businesses had of cashing up at the ending of the day and carrying the takings to the bank in a carrier bag to deposit.
Barclays will be providing a small Barclays Local service, similar to that which is running from St Peter’s Church in Hutton, where face to face advice on mortgages and accounts will be provided. I have suggested a couple of locations for the team to investigate and will let you know when the new smaller venue is open for business.
Elsewhere in Brentwood, the Mid and South Essex integrated Care Service consultation into the future use of Brentwood Community Hospital is ongoing. I am supporting Option B, which will bring 25 specialist stroke care beds to the town, and keep the existing intermediate care beds for local residents who need ‘step down care’ after spending time in an acute hospital following strokes, broken limbs and other conditions which need a bit of rehabilitation after acute treatment.
I am encouraging as many people as possible to take part in the consultation, and you can make your views known here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/MSECommunityConsultation2024/ If you need a paper copy of the consultation to fill in, or in large print or audio, you can call 01268 594350 or email: [email protected]
The consultation about the hospital services closes on 6th April. [Originally 21st March but deadline has been extended for two weeks]
