203 research outputs found
Investigating the impact of bank branch closures on access to financial services in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic
There is a longstanding policy interest in understanding the impacts of changes in access to public and private services in rural areas. To date much of the empirical analysis concerning changing patterns of accessibility has been predicated on assumptions regarding the mode of transport used to access such facilities. The availability of new and open sources of data, and the increasing sophistication of spatial analytical tools, has enabled alternative transportation modes to be included when investigating the impact of service changes. In this study a nationwide analysis of changes in public transport provision and bank closures has enabled the identification of those parts of Wales that were disproportionally impacted by the loss of financial services during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on local scenarios which show the combined impact of such changes, the findings demonstrate how temporal variations in accessibility can be used to examine potential patterns of exclusion that arise from the loss of key services. We conclude by suggesting that any assessment of changes in accessibility needs a holistic approach that considers changes in the transport infrastructure alongside other facets of service provision to understand the full impact of such closures on rural communities
Quantifying disparities in access to recreational opportunities by alternative modes of transport
Understanding spatial variations in accessibility to banks using variable floating catchment area techniques
The usability of open source tools to measure access to health services; analysing mobile cancer unit location
The application of network-based GIS tools to investigate spatial variations in the provision of sporting facilities
Using web-based technologies to better understand and present temporal variations in access to public services
Assessing the health impacts of adults’ participation in sports: investigating the role of accessibility to sport facilities
Barriers to reproducible research in GIS; a practical example using a national index of multiple deprivation
Towards an understanding of inequalities in accessing residential and nursing home provision: The role of geographical approaches
Combining Temporal and Multi-Modal Approaches to Better Measure Accessibility to Banking Services
The UK, as elsewhere, has seen an accelerating trend of bank branch closures and reduced opening hours since the early 2000s. The reasons given by the banks are well rehearsed, but the impact assessments they provide to justify such programs and signpost alternatives have been widely criticized as being inadequate. This is particularly so for vulnerable customers dependent on financial services who may face difficulties in accessing remaining branches. There is a need whilst analyzing spatial patterns of access to also include temporal availability in relation to transport opportunities. Drawing on a case study of potential multi-modal accessibility to banks in Wales, we demonstrate how open-source tools can be used to examine patterns of access whilst considering the business operating hours of branches in relation to public transport schedules. The inclusion of public and private travel modes provides insights into access that are often overlooked by a consideration of service-side measures alone. Furthermore, findings from the types of tools developed in this study are illustrative of the additional information that could be included in holistic impact assessments, allowing the consequences of decisions being taken to close or reduce the operating hours of bank branches to be more clearly communicated to customers
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