Protests grow louder over branch closures
Dunblane public demand urgent meeting with bank’s bosses
Representatives from RBS will be invited to a public meeting in Dunblane to discuss the proposed closure of bank’s branch in the town.
Members of Dunblane Community Council spoke about the issue during their monthly meeting on Wednesday evening.
The Observer reported on Wednesday that RBS banks in Dunblane, Bridge of Allan and Bannockburn are among the 62 branches across the country set to close for business in the new year.
The bank say that more and more people are moving to online banking with the number of customers using their branches falling.
However news of the closures has been met with strong opposition. Petitions launched to save the Bannockburn branch have attracted more than 2000 signatures.
Stirling MP Stephen Kerr raised a question in the House of Commons yesterday (Thursday) asking the leader to make time for a debate discussing the planned closures.
And when the topic was brought up in Dunblane this week councillors, community councillors and residents voiced their concerns before agreeing that they would invite RBS representatives to attend a public meeting in February.
David Prescott of Dunblane Community Council said: “We need to add our voice to this. It’s not an under-used branch. RBS haven’t provided any justification for this so we need to go to them and ask for their justification. All they have given is some generic information on their website.
“I would be interested to see their age and disability discrimination impact assessment. It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances. Staff will be made redundant and people will have to travel to Stirling to do their banking.”
Dunblane and Bridge of Allan councillor Alasdair Tollemache added: “People from Bridge of Allan and Bannockburn will also have to go to Stirling to use the RBS and there are issues with access there. It won’t be easy.”
His fellow councillor Graham Houston said that he had suggested a possible comprise that would prevent branches in both areas closing down.
He said: “I’ve written to RBS about this. There is a population of 10,000 people here and I’ve asked them to provide more details.
“I’ve asked if they would consider perhaps keeping one of the branches open in Dunblane and Bridge of Allan rather than closing both – just so there is at least one branch in the area.”
And Councillor Douglas Dodds added after the meeting: “Many residents in the community are rightly concerned by the actions of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
“RBS have to remember that they have a responsibility to their customers and the community.
“Dunblane Community Council spoke about this at their meeting and it was right that people had their say. I will be speaking to our local MP to see what pressure we can bring to bear on the RBS.”
Bridge of Allan Community Council released a statement earlier this week expressing their worry over the closure the RBS branch there.
It read: “Despite a greater trend of folks using online banking, local bank branches is the only way many of the community carry out their banking so to have no available banking in the village will have a huge impact on some. It’ll also impact on how many small businesses operate.”
An RBS spokesperson said: “More and more of branches to highlight the alternative ways to bank in their area. Our new community banker provides customers with personal assistance and support to access our non-cash services, as well as help with achieving their financial plans and goals – replicating many of the services available in our branches.
“Our community bankers will get to know local communities, engage with local groups and provide training and education on issues such as fraud and scams protection in their local area.”
They say that the closures across the country will result in almost 700 redundancies, and they will work hard to support those affected while ensuring compulsory redundancies are kept to a minimum.
It has been revealed that senior RBS executives will appear before the Scottish Affairs select committee in the new year to discuss its plans to close branches across Scotland.
The Dunblane branch on High Street is due to close on May 20 next year while the bank on Henderson Street, Bridge of Allan, will close on June 11. The Bannockburn branch has been earmarked for closure on May 15.
RBS have to remember they have a responsibility to their customers and community