Liberal Democrat plan to combat loss of vital community services, including banks
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The Lib Dems have revealed plans to create a “rapid-reaction service” bringing public agencies together to save community assets facing imminent closure.
Numerous Highland towns have lost bank branches in recent years including Tain, Invergordon and Beauly.
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Liberal Democrat candidate Molly Nolan said: “Much of our party manifesto – from health services to transport – is directly influenced by our experiences of fighting centralisation.
“Time and again we see the ways in which rural and remote communities in the north Highlands have been left behind by an out-of-touch Scottish Government.
“Countless bank closures over the last few years have had a devastating impact on communities across the Highlands and Islands, isolating people reliant on cash for their ability to go about their daily lives. People deserve so much better.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats will therefore fight to ensure public agencies work with big banks to invest in shared service hubs, so every community has access to the services they need.”
Under the plans multi-use hubs would be established as required in communities, funded by the Scottish Government, with banks required to engage with that process.
The result may be a middle-ground solution where banks continue to provide face-to-face services a few days a week.
For other assets community groups would be given a fair chance to acquire them, to keep them in use.
Labour has also said it would seek guarantees from banks not to close the “last branch in town.”
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch candidate, John Erskine, said: “This requires effective local partnerships between business, trade unions and the local authority to develop a long-term plan with measurable objectives, which are adequately funded.
“Banks, post offices, pubs and petrol stations keep our local communities alive and if we want to see a fair recovery for the Highlands and Islands from the pandemic then these businesses need support to help deliver that.”
SNP candidate Kate Forbes said the loss of some services was a “by-product” of the reduction in footfall on the High Street and more people going online, claiming the key lies in upskilling people to cope better with accessing services digitally.
“The Connecting Scotland programme seeks to provide more people with digital skills, technology and connectivity so they can access online services too,” she said.
Conservative candidate Jamie Halcro Johnston said: “Community engagement and working together is vital in exploring options. In the Highlands and Islands, we have seen positive examples of community ownership, working to create local hubs to provide access to vital services or expanding on the services local post offices can provide.”
