The Bank of Scotland has announced that it will be closing its branch at 95 High Street, Dunbar in May 2024.
Sustaining Dunbar is proposing to use the Community Right to Buy legislation in order to try to bring these premises into community ownership, as an asset that also has the potential to generate a profit for ongoing investment in community projects. By registering a ‘community right to buy’, we would ensure that we have the first option to buy the premises, before they are put on the open market.
Our current vision is for a vibrant community hub 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
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. Coworking spaces provide a well equipped and supportive work environment that can nurture new connections and the development of new initiatives and collaborations.
We are keen to hear your ideas and whether you would support bringing these premises into community ownership. What do you think? Please complete this short survey.
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.