Local community councils support the call from Scottish Conservative politicians to have a banking hub for Highland Perthshire, stating that there should be a reassessment done on the suitability of one for the area.
Councillor John Duff and Murdo Fraser MSP have written to John Howells, Chief Executive Officer of Link Scheme Holdings Ltd, to ask the group to consider their views on the matter, along with the views of local Community Councils representing Aberfeldy; Blair Atholl and Struan; Dull and Weem; Glenlyon and Lochtayside; Kenmore and District; Killiecrankie, Fincastle and Tummelbridge; Mid Atholl, Grandtully and Strathtay and Pitlochry and Moulin.
In the letter, Councillor Duff said: “The last bank in Highland Perthshire, the Bank of Scotland branch in Pitlochry, will close its doors on October 30. Requests have been made for a banking hub for this area but so far, these have been turned down by the Link Scheme, citing insufficient population and business requiring access to cash.
“It is apparent that the system employed by Link’s Cash Access Assessment fails to take into consideration the realities and practicalities of rural living in Highland Perthshire. Pitlochry is the main town for the area, and it serves a large number of communities in the Tummel and Tay Valleys with a total population of nearly 10,000. In addition, the population throughout Highland Perthshire is greatly enlarged in the summer months by the tourist population – probably in the region of a further 4,000 to 6,000."
“It seems that the Cash Access Assessment only takes into account that proportion of the population and businesses within a relatively short distance of the town centre, and ignores the reality that people travel from further afield to access services.”
And Mr Fraser added: “When the last bank branch closes, the nearest branch will be either Blairgowrie or Perth. Blairgowrie is 23 miles away from Pitlochry and 29 miles from Aberfeldy. The distance to Perth is 27 miles and 32 miles respectively.
“Furthermore, the Cash Access Assessment calculate the distance to the nearest bank branch ‘as the crow flies’ which is meaningless if there is a 3,000-foot mountain in between!
“The decision to refuse a banking hub for Highland Perthshire will impact those who can least afford the additional costs, time and effort to access banking services via Perth – the elderly, the disabled, the poor, families with young children and the sick.
“This is why we have asked Link to reassess the suitability for a banking hub in Highland Perthshire.”
