Gorleston High Street has taken a real hit since the closure of its last remaining bank. Once a thriving centre of local commerce, it now faces growing pressure — not from lack of ambition or community spirit, but from the absence of essential financial infrastructure. For the fifth-largest town in Norfolk to be left with no banking services is frankly unbelievable. This gap is holding back our high street, our businesses, and our residents. We're already seeing an influx of Vape shops and Turkish Barbers, and without accessible banking, Gorleston’s potential is being stifled — with the impact being felt across every corner of the community and especially within our elderly community, who are being left without the support they need, and in turn who help to keep the high street alive.

While our Post Offices do what they can, the limited services they offer simply don’t meet the needs of a busy, diverse high street.

This isn’t just a business issue — it’s a community issue. The loss of local banking services hits our elderly residents especially hard. Many older people rely on face‑to‑face banking, need assistance with transactions, or simply don’t feel confident navigating online banking. For them, being forced to travel long distances just to access basic services is not only inconvenient — it’s unfair and isolating.

For small business owners, entrepreneurs, and residents of all ages, having access to a full range of banking services locally is essential. A shared banking hub on Gorleston High Street would close that gap — supporting our local economy, strengthening our high street, and ensuring that elderly and vulnerable residents are not left behind.

Recent bank closures across the wider area have left Gorleston with fewer options than ever. A 2023 report highlighted that more than a third of small businesses rely heavily on physical bank branches for their day‑to‑day operations. Without proper banking facilities, even a thriving high street can quickly lose momentum.

A shared banking hub would help protect our community from that decline. It would support existing businesses, encourage new ones to open, and provide a central, reliable service point for residents — especially those who depend on in‑person support. It’s a practical, future‑focused solution that strengthens the foundations of our local economy and protects the independence of our elderly population.

As the Great Yarmouth First candidate for Gorleston, this is something I will be pushing for as one of my core priorities if elected — and I’m pleased to say I am joining forces with my colleague Kevin Huggins, the Great Yarmouth First candidate for Magdalen. Kevin brings a wealth of experience through his work with the Gorleston Traders Association and his years of running businesses on Gorleston High Street. Like me, he is passionate about delivering a shared banking hub for our community, and together we want to see a proper banking hub established on Gorleston High Street.

If you agree that Gorleston deserves accessible, modern banking services that support businesses, residents, and especially our elderly community, please sign and share the petition. Let’s make sure our town continues to grow, thrive, and lead the way in local regeneration.