PaulRogan

It is now becoming clear that big isn't beautiful nor any guarantee of success in today's world financial crisis. Big does mean big when it comes to the reality of a massive institution and local employer as it comes crashing to the ground.

Calderdale Council's Tory Leaders are making sympathetic offers of help; Labour's local MP is highlighting the difficulties with Nbr10 and getting good local press coverage. Whilst both are well aware of the massive effect the ‘Halifax' problems will have locally, quite frankly both are well out of their depths.

Is it time to start again? A local Mutual or Friendly Society, owned by its depositors, backed by the 5 West Yorkshire Councils. Focused on lending money to local people to buy their own homes.

I think there would be a great deal of local support and, more importantly confidence, in such a venture. Do the Local MP's and Council leaders have the vision, determination and imagination for such a solution? Probably not, however, there may well soon be a nice and more than appropriate head office building going free in Halifax.