Keith Vaz (Leicester East) (Lab)

- Hansard -

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]