Lack of cash hurting tourism in the strath

THE SNP has called on the Westminster government to act urgently to fix the ATM 'cash crisis' hitting rural communities across Scotland.

Drew Hendry MP, the SNP's Business Spokesperson at Westminster, has warned cashpoint machines are closing down at a 'rapid rate' across rural areas, leaving many communities and businesses without adequate banking facilities.

Latest figures from LINK, the UK's largest cash machine network, have revealed a further 1300 ATMs were lost between the end of January and the beginning of July 2018.

Coupled with the recent closures of bank branches across Scotland, the SNP is concerned that a lack of rural banking facilities will hit local families, small businesses, and tourism across Scotland.

SNP MPs and MSPs have been campaigning to reverse bank branch closures across Scotland including the plan by RBS to close 62 branches.

Mr Hendry, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, said despite repeated calls for action, and its role as majority shareholder in RBS, the Tory Westminster government has failed to lift a finger to prevent the closures.

He commented: "The Tories must now act urgently to tackle the crisis hitting rural communities across Scotland.

"It is simply not good enough that Tory ministers are refusing to lift a finger when communities are facing mass closures of local ATMs and bank branches.

"Access to banking facilities are vital for local families, small businesses, and the success of our tourism industry. As numbers of machines continue to decrease, where machines remain the cash is running dry just when it is needed.

"In my constituency alone, this summer has already seen locals, tourists and our businesses missing out as remaining cash machines have run out at the start of busy weekends in Aviemore and Grantown.

"Other communities have seen promised mobile van services simply fail to turn up. It is a shambles.

"Access to cash and banking facilities are vital for local families, small businesses, and the success of our tourism industry.

"The SNP will continue to fight for urgent action to ensure all communities have access to adequate banking facilities."

Stewart Dick, chairman of the Grantown Initiative, agrees the Highlands in general needs more cash machines and better banking services.

He said: "It is vital that visitors can access their other cash otherwise they will just move on to the next village where there is cash available.

"It's worth noting that whilst people with UK bank accounts can access cash at Post Offices and via cash back in the event that cash machines are empty or non-existent, the same cannot be said for visitors with foreign banks accounts.

"With two banks still open, two visits a week from the RBS van, three cash machines and the ability to carry out many common banking transactions at the Post Office, banking provision in Grantown is fairly good compared to many places.

"There were teething problems when the RBS closed with the remaining cash machines running out of cash but the Bank of Scotland; Morning Noon and Night and The Co-op all acted swiftly to make adjustments to ensure there was sufficient cash."

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