Preserve community banking

Local residents in Gorton are reeling from the announcement that they are to lose their last remaining High Street bank as the Royal Bank of Scotland closes its branch in Gorton District Centre this November.

Whilst basic banking services such as paying in cheques and other money or cash withdrawals will still be possible at WH Smiths' Post Office on Wellington Street, anything that requires being face to face with a banker will now require a trip into the city centre, which by bus equates to an £8 charge for every visit.

Whilst it is possible for many people to bank online, not everyone has the equipment, or indeed the ability to bank online.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesperson for Manchester Gorton, Dr Jackie Pearcey, stated that "Gorton has a lot of elderly residents who struggle with online banking, and a lot of poorer residents who can not afford the equipment needed to bank online."

"It is not so long ago that the British Taxpayers bailed out the RBS after some very dodgy dealing, and we still own a majority of the shares in the Bank, and yet when we attempted to petition parliament over these closures we were told that this is a private company and not something that parliament has any say over."

"Once again MP's are abrogating their responsibility, we need politicians who will fight for local services, rather than infighting in their own party."

The Liberal Democrats are calling on Royal Bank Of Scotland to stop the closure of our last high street bank, and to work with other financial institutions to secure a long term high street presence in Gorton for financial services. Please sign our petition here!