East Lothian community explore option to buy seaside town's last bank site
A community development trust is trying to secure a Community Right to Buy for a soon to be vacant unit that is home to Dunbar’s last physical bank branch.
Sustaining Dunbar believes that the space that is currently occupied by the Bank of Scotland could become an asset that would allow them to generate investment for their existing and future community projects.
Their vision would be to create a ‘vibrant community hub’ and ‘coworking centre’ in the seaside town.
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Asking for support through an online petition, the development trust said: “We believe that remarkable things can happen when people gather together.
“We think that such a community hub in the town centre would be a significant boost to Dunbar, would bring more people to the High Street and raise awareness of what locally owned shops have to offer. Many people are now working from home for at least part of the working week, often in less than ideal and isolated situations.
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“Coworking spaces provide a well equipped and supportive work environment that can nurture new connections and the development of new initiatives and collaborations. The closure of the Bank of Scotland will leave Dunbar without a branch of any bank and just two ATMs (at Morrisons at the south end of Dunbar High Street and within the High Street Co-op).
“Future banking needs will be met by the Post Office and by the mobile RBS bank which visits Bleachingfield for one hour each week. Having looked into establishing a local banking hub, it looks unlikely to be viable at the current time but we are keen to keep this under review.
“We are keen to hear your ideas and whether you would support bringing these premises into community ownership. What do you think?”
By registering a ‘community right to buy’, the trust would ensure that they had the first option to buy the premises, before they are put on the open market.
They added: “Our current vision is for a vibrant community hub and coworking centre in Dunbar town centre that will bring more people and businesses to the High Street.
high quality co-working and meeting spaces for local people and community groups, projects and businesses
professional, shared-office facilities that overcome isolation and encourage social interaction and collaboration as well as incubating and supporting the development of new enterprises, initiatives and networks
space to bring together individual workers who are tired of working at home and alone and crave some interaction with others
space for local, voluntary organisations and business start-ups to become successful and sustainable
a mix of open-plan office space with hot-desking, along with private, quiet space and meeting rooms, lockable storage etc. to cater for a range of needs
a space that offers more than just renting a desk”
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You can support the petition and read it in full here.