Demonstrators to put pressure on RBS over Highland branch

Protesters will gather outside a closure-threatened RBS branch in Highland Perthshire this week.

The demonstration will be staged in Pitlochry at noon tomorrow.

Campaigners want extra time to assess the numbers of people who use the branch during the summer months and to show how crucial it is to the area.

The Atholl Road bank is particularly busy with visitors during the holiday season.

RBS announced it was axing several local branches as part of a widespread programme of closures at the end of last year.

Banks in Kinross, Perth South Street and Aberfeldy are among those earmarked for closure, although 10 more, including Comrie, have been granted a reprieve.

Bank bosses agreed to keep the Comrie branch open and monitor its use for the next 10 months and customers have been warned to use or lose the Drummond Street service.

Highland Perthshire independent councillor Xander McDade has encouraged locals to take part in tomorrow’s Pitlochry demo.

“We’re asking for the same extension that has been given to 10 other branches to allow us to prove the level of footfall over the summer months,” he said.

“We need to show how critical it is to have local banking to facilitate Highland Perthshire’s tourism economy.”

A similar demonstration was held at Aberfeldy in January. More than 100 people showed up, many bearing banners with slogans such as “RBS: Killing rural communities”.

In recent years the town has lost its Bank of Scotland branch, cottage hospital and police and ambulance stations.