Plymouth City Council has banned payday loan websites from advertising on bus shelters and billboards.
The council has also blocked access to 50 of the most popular
payday loans websites from council computers and will be working with credit union services to ensure residents have access to affordable lending options.
Cabinet member for co-operatives and community development, Chris Penberthy said: ‘Plymouth’s advice agencies are taking calls daily from people who are running up huge debts that are causing stress and hardship to them and their families. We need to protect people and make it difficult for payday loan companies to operate in our city but we do recognise times are hard.’
The Public Accounts Committee estimates two million people have payday loans, with 5,000 of them in Plymouth. City watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority, is currently considering a blanket ban on advertising by lenders.
