Bolton Council is considering plans to open a high street shop selling white goods to help prevent residents falling prey to payday loan sharks.
The proposal to set up a council-run business selling fridges, washing machines and dryers came about after research undertaken by Cllr Kate Lewis revealed most residents who sought financial help from payday lenders did so when vital home goods broke down.
Some £300,000 from Bolton’s £1m anti-poverty strategy fund has been earmarked for the project, which could see local credit union Hoot and the council offer people affordable credit for urgent needs.
‘People told us about problems with referrals for debt advice, with issues with payday lenders and not knowing there was a viable alternative in Bolton,’ said Cllr Lewis
‘The shop is still being developed – we haven’t got the details of what it will be like at the moment.
‘But we want the offer to be as near to normality as possible. We don’t want people to feel stigmatised by using it.’
Bolton Council chief executive Sean Harriss said the authority could use its bulk buying power to procure white goods at discount and make them available for residents to buy at lower cost.
