Clockwise Credit Union in Greenhill

Local partners including Clockwise Credit Union, Stephenson College and the District Council are celebrating after announcing the opening of a new office in Greenhill. The centre, which aims to decrease the need for doorstep lenders, will officially open on Tuesday August 3rd.

The credit union, which serves Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, has already seen a big decrease in doorstop lending in Braunstone ever since their office was opened.

General Manager of Clockwise, George Puszczynski, said: "Clockwise offer affordable loans. Areas like Greenhill get targeted by doorstep lenders. Coalville itself is being targeted by companies with high interest rates, some will charge 20 per cent of the value of a cheque just to cash it.

"This office will give people access to affordable savings, and they will pay less interest on loans, on average they would save £140."

The centre will largely depend on volunteers, and is open to the whole of Coalville.

Danny Goodwin, Corporate Policy Officer at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: "Part of the reason we are looking at Greenhill is to stop people targeting these neighbourhoods. It will be beneficial to have an access point in Coalville." The scheme is gaining support from the Economic Group which is a sub committee of the Local Strategic Partnership and is chaired by Nigel Leigh, Principal at Stephenson College.

The office will open at Greenhill Community Shop in Greenhill on August 3rd from 10am - 12 noon.

For more information please contact Clockwise 0116 247 1740 or go to http://www.clockwise-cu.co.uk/)