LOCAL group Prosper Frome, that is working to find a solution for future community banking and post office services in the town, has said they do not give up hope of a community finance hub as they lobby for a better post office provision.
The group has been exploring the possibility of starting up Frome’s own banking hub, a concept where both traditional banking and post office services unite under one roof, following the closure of some of the services in the town centre, leaving residents without face-face financial support.
However, last year the group said Frome is not eligible for a government-backed banking hub because it has too many financial institutions and ATMs.
A meeting was held in October with the CEO of Onebankx who gave information about the provision of a banking kiosk which would allow an interface with all banks and also allow the paying in and paying out of cash, including change.
One of the leaders of the group, Jean Boulton explained, “The CEO, Duncan, has been in discussion at a regional level with a building society who are represented in Frome. It is possible that the kiosk may be installed in one of the local building societies, but this is at very early stages of consideration. We have still not given up on the idea of a community finance hub based around OneBankx technology.”
The group also started a Money Matters Café last year, giving residents help and signposting for financial issues. Now, they are intending to continue with streaming talks on money matters and will continue to offer the opportunity to sign up with Mendip Credit Union and signpost people to other services on Thursday afternoons at the town hall.
Alongside financial support, Prosper Frome has been exploring the town’s limited post office service. “The next step is for all of us to lobby for better Post Office services nationally. We need to go back, with the support of local councils and push for another local post office. Meanwhile, with banks leaving many towns, the post office is the main place where people can get face-to-face advice and support.
“They offer more than transactions and they cannot just be replaced by online services or remote kiosks; they are a public service much valued by the elderly and vulnerable and indeed by all of us at times, when we need to understand how to do something and get help.”
Frome also temporarily lost Rodden Road Post Office, when it closed in June last year, due to the shop it was based in, being sold. However, the Post Office has told Frome Times it is ‘progressing with an applicant’ for the Rodden Road Post Office. A Post Office spokesperson said, “We hope to have good news to share soon with this community as we know how important a post office is for residents and businesses.”
Jean said, “It is brilliant news to hear that Rodden Road Post Office may be open again soon. The Portway Post Office does a wonderful job, but Frome will really benefit from more services and in another part of town. This news will be much welcomed by residents.
“A big shout out to Portway Post Office, who deal with a phenomenal amount of people, covering, increasingly, those doing banking transactions as well as all the usual postal stuff. It is a complex and relentless job which they do very well.”
