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HBOS takeover: You say keep the jobs here
HALIFAX has the people, skills, buildings, history and dedication to drive banking forward, according to the town's residents.
Reporter Megan Featherstone took to the streets to ask why the thousands of threatened HBOS jobs should stay in Calderdale following the bank's merger with Lloyds TSB. The answers she got echo the Courier's reasoning behind our Bank on Halifax campaign: brand, buildings and brains.
Stuart Crowther, 57, of Siddal, said the Halifax name and brand was too closely linked with the town for the offices to be moved. "The company was born in Halifax. It and its success has come out of the town and the hard work of its people."
Mavis Bates, 63, of Northowram, highlighted the fact that Calderdale is home to two-purpose built buildings at Trinity Road and Copley, which together employ 6,500 people with years of experience and vast skills.
"The infrastructure is already in Halifax so it doesn't make any sense to close them down and reopen them elsewhere."
Other people had family and friends who were HBOS staff waiting to find out their fate.
Jackie Southwart, 49, of Holmfield, said: "My daughter works there. They are a good and loyal workforce. They already have the skills and expertise, so I don't think the jobs should go elsewhere."
Clive and Elaine Barrett, of Mytholm-royd, said they were concerned because their son, who has an eight-week-old baby, works for the bank.
Mrs Barrett, 47, said: "I think everyone in Calderdale will know someone who works there so any job losses would affect a lot of people."
Mr Barrett, 50, added: "If HBOS goes, there will be nothing left in the town. It will become a ghost town."
James Lord, 77, of Skircoat Green, agreed. "The jobs need to stay in Halifax because without them we will be left with massive unemployment."
Other residents said job losses would affect the whole town – not just staff at HBOS – as the area had grown with the bank.
Marlian Speak, 72, of Skircoat Green, said: "We need to keep people working in Halifax for the town's economy.
"HBOS brings so many people to the town and without them there will be fewer people in the shops."
Graham Day, 40, of Pellon, agreed: "Halifax needs the money HBOS brings. There is nothing else in Halifax."
Halifax MP Linda Riordan, Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman and Regional Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber Rosie Winter-ton are also behind our campaign.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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