LESLEY Laird is calling on bank bosses to stop Lochgelly becoming the next “banking desert”.

The Bank Of Scotland recently announced it would be closing its Lochgelly branch – the last bank left in town – in February.

On Thursday the MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath joined councillors Mary Lockhart and Linda Erskine to launch a petition in Lochgelly calling for BOS to think again.

Urging residents to sign the petition, Lesley said: “The plan to close the branch will hit elderly and vulnerable customers hard, make no mistake - not only in Lochgelly but in the neighbouring towns of Benarty and Cardenden.

“While BOS reasons that customers will only have to travel 2.2 miles away to the next available branch in Cowdenbeath, in reality some people will have to take three buses to get there; that’s an unacceptable alternative for people with mobility issues or those for whom every last penny counts.”

Lesley has written to BOS requesting a meeting to discuss the Lochgelly branch and also RBS to propose a new wider banking strategy.

She said: “RBS recently closed a number of branches in my constituency and outlined to customers alternative branch banking arrangements only to subsequently close these alternative branches within a very short period of time.

“There seems to be no wider corporate social responsibility from banks to ensure no communities are left in a 'banking desert'. Which is effectively what will happen in Lochgelly.”

She added: “Banks articulate a strong corporate social responsibility ethos, encouraging their staff to take part in many community, charity activities.

“I’ve written to BOS chief executive, António Horta-Osório, and RBS chief executive Ross McEwen appealing to them to develop a wider bank strategy which really does have the customer at its heart.”

Lesley continued: “The pace of technology banking is moving quickly - but that should not mean that communities and customers get left behind because they either can't or don't wish to do so. There are challenges with connectivity in many areas and technology solutions are not always practical.

“Branch banking provides the glue that supports many communities, and small businesses across the country. What I am advocating to BOS is a more creative and collaborative approach that I believe could be taken.”

The petition ‘Save Lochgelly’s Last Bank’ has been distributed among local shops and businesses in Lochgelly, Benarty and Cardenden.

An online version can also be found at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-lochgellys-last-bank.html