Working with Douglas Alexander, local Labour councillors and Tranent Branch Labour Party, Martin Whitfield MSP today launched a petition against the Royal Bank of Scotland’s decision to close its branch on Tranent High Street, the town’s only remaining bank.

The petition, which highlights the negative impact closing the branch would have and urges RBS to rethink the decision, was started on Tranent High Street with Martin, Douglas, the party’s candidate for the next UK general election, and ward councillors Fiona Dugdale and Colin McGinn collecting signatures from local people.

Mr Whitfield has also written to RBS to express his disappointment with the announcement and request a meeting to discuss the proposed closure and the impact it will have on customers and the town.

Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“We have already experienced several bank closures in Tranent and other communities across East Lothian over recent years. This latest proposed closure will be detrimental to local RBS personal and business customers as well as leaving Tranent without a single bank branch.

“Given the negative impact the decision will have on the town and local people, I’ve already written to RBS to urge them to rethink the decision and requested a meeting to discuss the announcement and possible alternatives. I’ll work with the local community to oppose the closure and make the case for retaining banking services and access to cash in Tranent.”

Douglas Alexander added:

“This proposed closure is part of a wider pattern of banking services being withdrawn completely from towns and communities across the UK. Closing branches has various negative consequences for individual customers, especially the most disadvantaged, businesses, High Streets and local communities.

“The UK Government should be doing more to ensure that communities like Tranent, and Prestonpans before it, are not left without a single local bank branch. I want to see more proactive support for banking hub solutions to ensure decent banking services remain accessible to all communities.”