East Midlands MEP shows support for residents’ campaign

Emma McClarkin MEP, the Conservative Member of the European Parliament for the East Midlands, recently showed her support for the campaign to keep the Groby Agency branch of Santander Bank open by signing the campaign petition.

The photo shows, from left to right, Peter Batty (Groby Borough Councillor), Emma McClarkin MEP signing the petition, Ozzy O’Shea (Ratby Borough Councillor and County Councillor for Groby and Ratby), outside the Santander Agency branch in Groby.

Miss McClarkin visited Groby to meet customers, local businesses and local councillors who organised the petition against the closure. While in the village she was impressed with the passion of local residents and their support for this much valued local facility and the staff who work there.

She said:

“This very busy branch is the only full time bank branch serving the 2 large villages of Groby and Ratby, and many elderly and vulnerable residents rely on this facility not just for the basic banking facility, but they also trust the always helpful advice from the caring staff who are looked at by many as part of the family.

“If Santander insist on closing this branch it will be a real blow to the local community. I would urge Santander to reconsider their decision; it does not seem to make sense to me, as Groby is one of their busiest sub-branches, which I am led to believe conducts considerably more business than many of Santander’s high street branches.”

Santander have advised loyal long time customers – many of whom are elderly or vulnerable – that there will be no inconvenience for them to use the next nearest Santander branch at Beaumont Leys.

Commenting on this, the Borough councillor for Groby, Peter Batty, said:

“That sounds great on paper, but the reality is that there is no bus service from Groby to Beaumont Leys, so how is this not a major inconvenience for people without cars, particularly the elderly and vulnerable?

“Santander obviously do not value loyal customers if this is their attitude towards them. How can it make sense to close such a successful branch and alienate so many loyal customers?”