Cafe owner says bank closure has disrupted trade

A cafe owner believes trade has declined by 30% due to the closure of the town's last bank.

Lloyds left Hadleigh in Essex in September 2022, saying its footfall had declined in the preceding years.

Melissa Bennett-Blois, who runs Hadleigh Kitchen Cafe, said there were fewer walk-in customers, as they were less likely to visit the town centre.

"We lost a lot of custom and, to be honest, we are still trying to survive that," she said.

The business, formerly known as Natural Bake, rebranded in an effort to attract more custom, and also changed the menu and put on special events.

"A lot of people used to go to Hadleigh to get their money out or to put it through the banks," Ms Bennett-Blois explained.

"Then they'd think, 'I'm a bit hungry, should we get a bit of coffee or cake?'

"But now there's not a lot of people walking around."

About 12.5 miles (20km) north of Hadleigh, residents in Maldon have been preparing to lose their last bank.

The town is among four others in Essex - Billericay, Canvey Island, Clacton-on-Sea and Saffron Walden - where Santander is shutting up shop.

Giles Ford, managing director of Edwards Walk Shopping Arcade, told the BBC most of the 15 shops under his watch relied on cash purchases to stay afloat.

"The ones that use cash estimate it makes up for around 15% of their income," he said, adding that some charity shops had a 60% cash income.

"They take small amounts of money and that's really going to affect them."

Many shopkeepers in Maldon have been relying on support from the Federation of Small Businesses during the uncertainty.

Ann Scott, from the organisation, said many were concerned about the bank closure.

She said: "I appreciate the challenge that the banks have to go where the consumer demand is, but there is still a demand for cash and we can't leave those people behind."

A spokesperson for Santander UK said the branch closures proved a "very difficult decision" that followed lengthy discussions.

The bank planned to open mobile hubs to strike a balance between face-to-face and online interaction with customers.

"As a business, we must move with customers and balance our investment across all the places where we interact with customers, to deliver the very best for them now and in the future," the spokesperson added.

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