Yesterday (Thursday 8 December), Kelly Tolhurst MP called on the Leader of the House of Commons to allow for a debate on the impact of the latest round of NatWest bank branch closures.
The closure of the NatWest branch on Rochester High Street would leave the centre with only one bank remaining, which Kelly says will have “significant impacts” within the community for residents, businesses and retailers alike.
Kelly stated to the House of Commons that,
“This has been a running theme across the country in which we have seen half the number of bank branches reduced in the last 25 years.”
Kelly then called on the Government to “make time for a debate on the wider impact of these closures on the elderly, disabled and small businesses who rely on the important services they provide.”
The Leader of the House could not commit to allowing a debate at this time, but did state that he hoped banks would fully consider the consequences of such decisions within communities where large number of people have particular access issues.
Kelly has written to the Chief Executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest, Ross McEwan, to express her concerns and request an urgent meeting to discuss the plans. Kelly has said she will also be looking at other ways to raise the issue in the House over the coming weeks.