An MP has spoken of her concern about the possibility of a town in her constituency losing its only ATM.
Lizzi Collinge, Labour MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, said she has been ‘working to see’ what alternative banking provision can be provided in Kirkby Lonsdale after NatWest announced it would be closing a branch in the town.
The NatWest branch is set to close on June 10 and its closure will mean Kirkby Lonsdale faces losing its last high street bank and its only ATM.
Mrs Collinge said: “Local people are rightly concerned at the loss of the NatWest branch and cash machine, which is why I have been working with organisations in Kirkby Lonsdale and the LINK Cash Access team to make sure a replacement ATM is in place before the removal of the NatWest one.
“I have also been working to see what alternative provision is possible for other banking services.”
Additionally, at the end of last month, NatWest submitted a ‘Listed Building Consent’ planning application to Westmorland and Furness Council.
The high street bank is asking for formal consent to remove ‘existing signage, external ATM & Nightsafe Components’ at the branch.
Earlier this month, a council conservation officer visited the bank branch to conduct a consultation response assessment.
“Having read through the supporting information, I am of the view that the principle of the works to 55 Main Street [the NatWest branch] is acceptable,” said the council officer.
This was on the provision that the bank provides some more details to assure the council that it will not damage the historic building.
An official decision on the application has not been made yet.
Despite submitting the planning application to remove the external ATM, a NatWest spokesperson said it is the bank’s “intention to keep the branch’s free-to-use ATM open, until another is available in the area.”
Mrs Collinge said she has ‘explored the idea’ of a banking hub in the town to help fill the gap left after the NatWest branch closure.
However, Kirkby Lonsdale currently does not meet the appropriate criteria for such a service, ‘partly due to population’ size, and because the criteria mostly relate to ‘access to cash transactions, not other banking services’ such as mortgages and loans.
However, Mrs Collinge has said that she has raised this issue with the relevant government minister, who has assured her that ‘this is being looked at’.
NatWest was contacted for comment about potential banking hub options.
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