Chamber helping Lawrencetown in bid for ATM

By Lawrence Powell

Spectator

NovaNewsNow.com

Lawrencetown's village commission chair Lynette Gilks is delighted that somebody is finally helping the community solve its bank machine problems.

The Central Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce has taken on the challenge of lobbying for a bank machine for the community and has called a public meeting for November 15 at the fire hall.

Gilks has been lobbying banks to set up an ATM in the village for almost two years, ever since Valey Credit Union pulled its machine from a kiosk at Lawrencetown Pharmasave.

"It's hurting business in the village," Gilks said of the lack of banking facilities. "And it's difficult for students and seniors who often don't have any reliable means of transportation."

She said when people do get to a bank or bank machine, it's in Middleton or Bridgetown.

"And that's where they spend their money," she said.

Lawrencetown was home to the Royal Bank for 90 years, but the bank pulled out several years ago. Valley Credit Union operated out of the co-op building when the Royal left, and when the co-op closed, put a 24-hour-accessible bank machine in the drug store which had spent several thousand dollars building the kiosk for that purpose.

Since the Credit Union machine was pulled out almost two years ago, Gilks has lobbied the Credit Union to replace the machine, and has petitioned both Scotiabank and Toronto Dominion. She is still waiting to hear back from TD.

"It's wonderful," Gilks said of the chamber's involvement. "Anybody helping is a good thing."

The chamber stepped in after hearing the plight of local businesses. Its advocacy chair Ken Bower and director Sheri Brumsey (who brought the matter to the attention of the chamber) looked into the situation and decided to help out by calling a public meeting where the issue could be discussed and solutions sought.

"Come out and have your views heard," the chamber said in a meeting notice. "Be prepared to let the financial institutions know that Lawrencetown can and will support the institution that puts in a full service bank machine or greater services."

The Royal Bank put a full service bank machine in Kingston when it has a bank in Middleton and Berwick, the chamber noted.

"The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce maintains a bank in Kingston when it has a bank in Greenwood," the notice said. "The Scotiabank has a bank machine in Aylesford (although they fell short on allowing deposits) while having a bank in Greenwood."

The Valley Credit Union answered the call to provide banking services in Canning when the Scotiabank left.

"If it is important to have those services in Lawrencetown, then let us stand up and together we can make it happen," the chamber said.

The meeting on November 15 begins at 7 p.m. and concerned members of the public are urged to attend.