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More than 500 people have signed an online petition opposing the closure of Larkhall’s branch of the Bank of Scotland in January. Hundreds of residents are supporting the call for an independent review of the decision, following a busy public meeting hosted by ward representative Richard Nelson – who is working to set up a “banking taskforce” to continue financial service provision in the town. Now he has written to the bank asking for the decision to be reviewed, saying it has “far-reaching consequences” for residents and businesses. Councillor Nelson’s petition, launched following the public meeting he hosted last week, asks for the January 8 closure of the Union Street branch to be paused until an independent review is carried out on grounds including transport issues, impact on older people and social and economic factors. It states: “This decision would have a serious impact on our elderly residents, vulnerable members of the community, and local businesses who rely on face-to-face banking services. For residents coming from rural areas such as Netherburn and Ashgill, travelling further afield for basic banking is neither practical nor fair. “This move risks pushing people into isolation, particularly older residents who depend on personal interaction for advice and support. It will also harm local businesses and have a negative effect on our town centre, which depends on the footfall that the bank brings.” He has again written to the bank, highlighting “evidence of deprivation, digital exclusion, and access inequality” impacting the branch’s current customers, adding: “Further public meetings are being arranged to gather additional evidence and testimony from local residents and businesses.” The letter states: “Only 32 per cent of households in Ashgill and Netherburn and 45 per cent in central Larkhall are within a ten-minute walk of high-frequency public transport; closing the Larkhall branch will therefore increase travel barriers for residents, particularly those in rural and access-deprived areas who cannot easily reach alternative branches or switch to digital banking. “Larkhall’s data profile highlights that only 81 per cent of households in Ashgill and Netherburn have access to superfast broadband, compared with 94 per cent across South Lanarkshire. Forcing customers toward online banking risks excluding those experiencing digital poverty, unreliable internet access, or limited digital confidence including elderly and low income households.” Councillor Nelson added: “Views from a recent public meeting I convened in Larkhall reflected strong community concern. Residents and business owners described feeling pressured to adopt digital banking, [and] attendees also raised issues around online fraud, inadequate public transport and the limited capacity of the local Post Office to handle business or complex transactions. “I am in the process of establishing a local banking taskforce for the Larkhall area, with the aim of working collaboratively to protect financial inclusion and maintain essential local services. “Closing this branch will exacerbate existing inequalities in access, transport, digital connectivity, and economic opportunity – I therefore urge the Bank of Scotland to pause this closure and engage constructively with local partners to ensure that no community is left behind.” His petition comes as parliamentarians Davy Russell MSP and Frank McNally MP both appeal the assessments of cash access organisation Link that neither Larkhall nor Bellshill – where the bank branch is also closing in January – do not require the establishment of banking hubs. The Hamilton Advertiser told last week how constituency MSP Mr Russell called the decision “a disgrace” and has written to ask for the decision to be reconsidered, saying: “A numerical assessment does not fully capture the real-world consequences faced by people who are vulnerable and facing a domino effect of closing amenities – I strongly believe the scale of those affected is much wider and the degree of the discomfort far deeper.” Mr McNally, the Bellshill MP, said of his area: “If this closure goes ahead, Bellshill will be the largest town in Lanarkshire without a bank branch – that’s not acceptable for local residents or small businesses who still need access to face-to-face services, and I’ve made clear to Link that Bellshill deserves fair consideration for a banking hub in the town centre.” A Bank of Scotland spokesperson told the Advertiser: “The way people are banking has changed, as more than ever, customers are choosing to manage their money through our app. “Customers can continue to do their everyday banking on our app, by calling us or the nearby local Post Office in each town.” Bank customers are being directed to alternative branches at Hamilton and Motherwell, “as well as other options such as the Post Office, banking hubs [in Carluke and Cambuslang], app, online and telephone banking, PayPoint locations in Bellshill and Larkhall using our app cash deposit feature [and] nearby free-to-use ATMs”. * Don't miss the latest he adlines from around Lanarkshire. 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