Vanquis vanquished from the Spindles

OLDHAM Lib-Dems have driven a controversial sub-prime lender from Spindles shopping centre.

They successfully campaigned to have Vanquis Bank — a money lender accused of targeting customers with limited means and a poor credit history — removed from the centre.

It follows the Lib-Dems getting Vanquis banned from having a stand at Oldham Bus Station after an appeal to Transport for Greater Manchester.

Vanquis, a subsidiary of doorstep lender Provident Finance, then moved into Spindles and Lib-Dem leader Councillor Howard Sykes wrote to the manager of the centre asking the new American owners for their support.

In the letter he stated: “Vanquis actively targets and impoverishes poor people by trapping them in a cycle of debt. I therefore ask you to withdraw permission for Vanquis (or similar sub-prime lenders) to operate from a stand in Spindles and to instead work with Oldham Council to promote access to a stand for staff from the council’s financial inclusion team and the Oldham Credit Union”.

Councillor Sykes was pleased to receive speedy and positive response from centre manager Mike Flanagan, with Vanquis denied the use of Spindles within days.

He said: “I am grateful to the manager and owners of the Spindles for their support. This is an example of town centre retailers acting responsibly. I now hope that we can promote Credit Union services to shoppers in time for Christmas, and I also hope that other town centre retailers will not offer this company houseroom.”