Ahead of the official ribbon cutting, I popped into Sidmouth’s Banking Hub to catch up with the new manager, Janet, and meet some of the bank staff who will be based there.

The builders have done a superb job and the hub looks cracking. The banking hub is located in the former Joules store on New Street, right in the heart of town.

Congratulations to everyone involved in the efforts to get our banking hub open. It’s been a great team effort to get this delivered within a year of Lloyds first announcing its branch would close, which was the last bank in town.

Last year, I held meetings to see how to set up banking hubs across East Devon. I also launched a local campaign to send a clear message to the banks that they should staff Sidmouth's banking hub, and I’ve been working closely with the organisation charged with getting it up and running.

Sidmouth’s Banking Hub has two different things inside it.

Firstly, a counter where customers from any bank can do basic banking services like depositing cash and cheques whenever the bank is open, which is Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.

Secondly, an advice room – staffed by one bank a day – where customers of the bank available on the daily rota can get advice for things like mortgages, loans, and pensions.

If you have any comments or questions about Sidmouth’s Banking Hub, please do get in touch. As a Sidmouth resident, I’m looking forward to being a regular customer.

Halifax’s Exmouth branch is closing on 7th August. Exmouth will need a banking hub sooner rather than later, and I’ve already made the case for one for the town.

Recently, I co-signed a letter from MPs to the Financial Conduct Authority to unlock more banking hubs, and I am currently working with local communities to try to get banking hubs for Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Ottery St Mary.

I’ll work hard to make sure people can access their banking services on our high streets.