Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab)
I would like to present a petition, signed by 1,059 residents of Evington in Leicester, opposing Santander’s intention to close the local branch in Downing drive. Evington is one of the very last urban villages in the city of Leicester, and the bank’s decision to close the branch will have serious consequences for local people. They will need to go into the city centre to withdraw or bank their money. I will shortly be arranging a meeting with the chief executive of Santander. The petitioners, led by Hakim Khalifa, Irene Johnstone, Anna Wills, Malcolm Taylor, Anup Patny, Richard Harrison, Ken Richardson, Peter Brooks and Donald Nolan, and supported by the two councillors Dipak Bajaj and Baljit Singh have this to say:
The Petition of residents of Leicester East,
Declares that the proposed closure of the Santander Branch on Downing Drive in Evington will have an extremely negative impact on elderly residents in the area who use the branch.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to meet with representatives of Santander to examine the impact of branch closures on local residents.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P001347]
Mrs Sharon Hodgson (Washington and Sunderland West) (Lab)
I am pleased to be able to present this petition asking the House of Commons to urge the Government to examine the feasibility of extending the Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington and bringing the Leamside railway line back into use. The petitioners and I believe that doing so would boost jobs and growth in Washington, and indeed in the wider region. The petition is accompanied by one along the same lines collected by Adam Robson from Washington, which as of today has been signed by 1,585 people on the change.org website.
The petition states:
The Petition of residents of the United Kingdom,
Declares that the Petitioners believe that the extension of the Tyne and Wear Metro to Washington is a vital, yet missing, part of the region’s transport system, and further that such an extension would make a significant contribution to the economic development of the town.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Transport to seriously explore the feasibility of extending the Tyne and Wear Metro to the town of Washington, utilising the old Leamside railway line.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.
[P001346]