New Wath banking hub gets go-ahead
A NEW banking hub will be constructed in the grounds of the Tesco superstore in Wath upon Dearne, after a condition which threatened the project was dropped.
Banking hubs are being introduced in many communities which have lost conventional high street bank branches, using the same premises to accommodate staff from different businesses on a rota.
A temporary arrangement was put in place at Montgomery Hall in the town, with a plan to switch to new premises at Tesco.
However, Rotherham Council had wanted to put a two year time limit on that site’s operations plunged the idea into doubt.
It is to be operated by Cash Access UK, a non-profit making organisation and they argued the development would not be feasible over a short timescale, because of the commitments they have to make to the Financial Services Authority.
However, the application has since gone before planning officers at the council, who have decided to grant the removal of the condition as a ‘delegated’ matter, meaning it does not have to go before elected councillors.
Earlier correspondence over the planning application had raised the issue of a council suggestion that the hub could eventually be located at the new Wath library, which is in the process of being redeveloped on the site of the existing premises.
The new decision would suggest the library plan is now unlikely to progress.
The applicant had questioned the council’s position on describing the Tesco site being in an “edge of centre” location, when the store falls within the area deemed by the council to be town centre.