THE Royal Bank of Scotland has been urged by Douglas Chapman to reconsider proposed changes to its mobile banking service in Fife, particularly in the Cowdenbeath area, which is of benefit to the MP’s constituents in the neighbouring villages of Hill of Beath and Crossgates.

When the new schedule comes into force from Monday April 30 the 90-minute stop in the town on Mondays will be cut to just 40 minutes while Fridays will be 50 minutes rather than a full hour.

The Dunfermline and West Fife MP said: “When the Cowdenbeath RBS branch was closed in October last year we were assured other banking services, such as mobile banking, would be put in place to help its customers in the town and surrounding villages.

"Only a few short months later and that service is already being reduced not just in Cowdenbeath but across the Kingdom.”

He added: “I’m very concerned about the impact this reduced scheduled will have on my constituents and small businesses in Hill of Beath and Crossgates who depend on this mobile service.”

As well as Cowdenbeath, RBS will also be reducing their Fife service in Anstruther, Burntisland, Crail, Dalgety Bay, East Wemyss, Kelty, Leven and Newburgh.

The moves on mobile services follow on their decision to shut their Cowdenbeath branch a few months ago.