The UK’s governing body for cash access has been criticised after claiming an ATM at a petrol station will meet the needs of one of Aberdeenshire’s largest towns after Link rejected calls for a banking hub.
In a response to Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross, Link said it had rejected an appeal submitted by the MP against the decision not to award Ellon a banking hub, despite it being left without a branch.
Instead, the organisation said a bank machine located at Ellon’s Esso petrol station was enough to serve the town centre.
Ms Cross, whose petition has now reached 750 signatures, said she will fight “tooth and nail” to convince Link to set up a banking hub in the town centre.
It followed the closure of the town’s Bank of Scotland last September, which was Ellon’s last remaining bank, and the subsequent announcement that the branch’s ATM will now also be removed on June 16.
In Link’s response, the body said: “Link has conducted two detailed site visits to the town to understand the cash infrastructure and local needs in detail.
“The ATM provided by the Bank of Scotland is due to close, but a new deposit taking machine has opened next to the Ellon petrol station.
“This deposit taking machine will be open to businesses and individuals, and will provide additional capacity for people locally to manage their cash.”
In response, Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, Harriet Cross, said: “Link must rethink its unreasonable decision not to award a banking hub for Ellon and I will continue to fight tooth and nail to make sure this decision is reversed.
“Ellon is a key economic hub for Aberdeenshire with a population of more than 10,000 people who depend on face-to-face banking and easy cash access.
“Link must recognise that their decision will leave, amongst others, elderly people, disabled residents, and business owners high and dry, without adequate banking options in the town.
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“It’s shameful to make hard-working businesses, as well as thousands of people, turn up to a petrol station to take out cash.
“That’s not just inconvenient – it’s unacceptable, exclusionary and potentially dangerous – which is why my campaign and petition to safeguard the future prosperity of Ellon will continue to pressure Link until it rethinks its decision.”
