Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone launches petition urging banking giant TSB to halt Tain branch closure during Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown
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A BANK'S refusal to spare a Ross-shire branch from the axe during the Covid-19 lockdown is "shameful", an angry MP has said as he launched a petition urging a u-turn.
Jamie Stone has called on the public to make their voices heard over the TSB's refusal to grant its Tain site a temporary reprieve at a time when people are relying on financial advice and support more than ever.
His new online petition comes after one long-standing TSB customer cancelled their account in protest at the banking giant's Tain move.
Michard Baird, from Bonar Bridge, had been an account holder for 72 years before making his protest.
And Mr Stone, the MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said this showed the strength of feeling in Easter Ross and neighbouring Sutherland.
Before launching the petition, Mr Stone said: “It is obvious to me that TSB is completely uninterested in supporting their customers at a time when we need their advice and support most. I gave TSB every opportunity to change their mind and do what was right for the people of Tain. Shame on them for taking such a hard line.
"I want to put moral pressure on TSB to change their stance but I can only do that with the help of local people. I hope they will join me in ramping up the pressure on TSB to cancel the planned closure of their Tain branch."
Mr Stone's new petition comes after he wrote to the TSB to ask them if they would cancel all planned closures until further notice. He made the plea after the Clydesdale Bank gave a temporary reprieve to its Dingwall branch, citing the coronavirus lockdown as the reason.
The Ross MP said TSB "ignored the offer of a meeting and committed to closing their branch in Tain".
He added that he had also written to the treasury to see what support the UK government might offer rural banks, but that the "disappointing response" prompted him to table a Parliamentary motion to raise awareness of the TSB's decision.
Urging people to sign his petition, he said: "It is time to coordinate our efforts in one last push to save TSB in Tain."
Visit www.jamiestone.org.uk/tsbtain to sign the petition, which will then be sent to the UK Chancellor.
