Bank Closures: another nail in the coffin for North Wales communities - Burnham

6.07.00pm GMT Tue 13th Feb 2007

Eleanor Burnham AM has demanded action from the Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration to halt the decline of rural and deprived communities across North Wales, which are feeling the effects of increasing bank closures.

Ms Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for North Wales, has been talking to the Campaign for Community Banking Services, who have revealed that since 2003 8 communities across the region have been left without any bank at all and more are set to follow.

Ms Burnham has now tabled a statement of opinion and written to Edwina Hart demanding meetings between the Welsh Assembly Government and the British Banking Association, in the hope of halting the decline of banking in communities.

Ms Burnham said: "Many communities across my region, and the rest of Wales, already survive with just one branch of a major UK bank, limiting peoples' options and jeopardising the survival of local small businesses.

"The number of towns with only one bank branch looks set to rise in the next few years. This, along with the closure of Post Offices offering key local services, could be the last nail in the coffin for many of our communities.

"We need action to halt the decline of our towns and villages, which is why I have tabled a statement of opinion demanding that the British Banking Association, as the industry's main body, does not abandon Welsh communities which are severely affected by branch closures.

"I have also written to the Social Justice and Regeneration Minister to find out how she is encouraging joint working between major UK banks in Wales, and the use of Inter Bank Agency Agreements. These can offer customers banking services via Post Offices and multiple bank branches, which could ease the strain upon small communities."

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